Local events to mark 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 tragedy

By Allison Duck

Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011 | 8:21 p.m.

Sunday is the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 tragedy, and groups across the valley are marking the occasion with events to honor those killed in the terrorist attacks.

Throughout the weekend, a 9/11 tribute wall will be set up downtown, just south of The Plaza on Main Street. People are encouraged to leave messages for victims of 9/11 or the wars since then. Letters for soldiers stationed overseas also will be collected and distributed by Nellis Air Force Base.

UNLV will have an outdoor display of 120 U.S. flags and 13 international flags at the north end of the academic mall. The U.S. flags commemorate 25 people each who died in the attacks, and the international flags represent the home countries of the other victims.

Here is a list of other events leading up to the anniversary:

Wednesday, Sept. 7:

• At 11 a.m., UNLV presents a discussion entitled Remembering September 11th — First Responders Tell the Story. Sandy Seda, UNLV assistant chief of police, and officer Paul Velez are the featured speakers.

Thursday, Sept. 8:

• At 9 a.m., join the university community as the UNLV Rebel Vets lead a wreath-laying ceremony at the UNLV Veterans Memorial.

• From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the UNLV Student Recreation and Wellness Center sponsors a blood drive. All donors will receive a voucher for a free frozen yogurt from U-Swirl.

• At 4 p.m. at the Foundations Building, UNLV presents a panel discussion entitled 9/11: 10 Years and Counting.

Panelists will discuss how Sept. 11 affected the nation, the world and the war against global terrorism. Panelists include Ross Bryant, deputy director of the UNLV Institute for Security Studies; Allen Lichtenstein, general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada; Tom Monahan, lieutenant with Metro Police; and Joe Sorge, president of the UNLV Student Veterans Organization.

Friday, Sept. 9:

At 4 p.m. in the Lied Library, UNLV President Neal Smatresk hosts a tribute to the heroes of Sept. 11. Local artist Troy Gillett has created an art piece to commemorate the anniversary. The sculpture and accompanying exhibit will be on display in the entrance of the library until February.

Saturday, Sept. 10:

• Talent from the Las Vegas entertainment community, including performers and musicians from “Jersey Boys,” “The Lion King,” “Phantom: the Las Vegas Spectacular,” “Love,” “Nunsense” and “Menopause the Musical,” join to present a special concert performance of the new musical, “God Lives in Glass.”

The concert will commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, which inspired the writing and original production of the musical as a way of reaching across racial, cultural and religious boundaries to promote global unity and acceptance of cultural diversity.

Tickets are $25 and the show takes place at the Judy Bayley Theater. Proceeds benefit Family Promise of Las Vegas and The Nevada Conservatory Theatre.

• Fire service members across the country will climb 110 stories in honor of their fallen brothers. The Las Vegas event will take place at The Stratosphere. Climbers will carry photographs and biographical information of firefighters who lost their lives in the events of 9/11. Registration begins at 7 a.m.

• The Peoples Valley Chorus and Green Valley Presbyterian Church present a performance entitled “Brahms Requiem — 9.11.01 Commemoration.” The event is at 7:30 p.m. and is free, but donations will be accepted.

• The Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church of Las Vegas and the Desert Chorale offer a performance of Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem.” The event is free, but donations will be accepted.

• Body Fit Las Vegas commemorates the anniversary with a hike on Mount Charleston. Participants should meet at 5:30 a.m. at Body Fit Las Vegas, 6415 S. Tenaya Way. The event is free. For more information, call 530-1022.

• The Islamic Society of Nevada hosts a remembrance service featuring a candle lighting ceremony. Guest speakers include the Rev. Gard Jameson of the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada; Daniel Bogden, U.S. attorney for the district of Nevada; and Aslam Abdullah, director of the Islamic Society of Nevada. The event is at 5:15 p.m. at the Islamic Society of Nevada, 4730 East Desert Inn Road.

• The One Runner, One Fallen walk/run takes place at the Fremont Street Experience. Event packet pick-up and registration will be located in the plaza area of the Neonopolis.

The run is limited to 3,063 runners, each running for a victim of 9/11. The walk is limited to 6,000 walkers, each walking for a fallen service member since 9/11. Check-in starts at 4 a.m. and closes at 5:30 a.m. Runners begin at 6 a.m. and walkers at 6:30 a.m.

• Five local motorcycle events will take place in conjunction with the national One Rider, One Survivor motorcycle ride.

The Red Rock Loop leaves Red Rock Harley Davidson at 8 a.m. The Last Stop Run leaves Red Rock Harley Davidson at 9 a.m. The Pioneer Run leaves Red Rock Harley Davidson at 10 a.m. The Overton Loop leaves Las Vegas Harley Davidson at 8 a.m. The Searchlight Run leaves Henderson Harley Davidson at 9 a.m.

• Two equestrian events will take place at Horseman’s Park. In the Heroes Park area, 95.5 KWNR will be doing a live remote broadcast from 10 a.m. until noon.

From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., enjoy food from vendors including Sausage Fest and Hawaii's Favorite Shaved Ice plus a program by the 9/11 Remembrance Committee along with Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

The event also features free face painting, balloon animals, roping with Woody, Jessie and Cowboy Bob from Bonnie Springs and snow cones in a Kidz Zone. Paid activities include the Stratosphere Tower Rock Wall, pony rides, a mechanical bull and introductory horseback riding and vaulting lessons.

Also at Horseman’s Park, in the main area, see the Horses4Heroes’ Spirit of America Equestrian Drill Team, Big Horse Productions, Miss Rodeo Clark County Carly Alexander, Miss Western Heritage Breanna Davis, Sin City Mounted Shooters, Robin Sharp and America’s Favorite Trail Horse, Mr. Checkers, Buffalo Soldiers, Las Vegas Mounted Police, and Pony Party Time’s Patriotic Ponies & Friends.

Ford Country presents the Built Ford Tough Parade of Heroes, followed by a presentation of colors by the Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard, Chaparral High School NJROTC Honor Guard and the Las Vegas Fire Department Bagpipes.

The Riderless Horse will be presented by David Schalles of the Army National Guard, Cavalry Unity. The event will also feature poetry readings, musical performances and 10 seconds of silence in honor of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11 and since then in the ongoing wars.

Sunday, Sept. 11:

• An Interfaith Remembrance Service will be held in association with the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, Congregation Ner Tamid, UNLV, the Anti-Defamation League, Las Vegas Sun, United Way of Southern Nevada, the Board of Rabbis of Southern Nevada, Stillpoint Center for Spiritual Development and the Nevada Broadcasters Association.

The event will take place at the Student Union Ballroom at UNLV and will feature keynote speaker Maureen Peckman, a member of the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security.

• The West Coast Heroes Parade and Ceremony will take place in downtown Las Vegas. The event begins at 5:46 a.m., the moment the first World Trade Center tower was hit on Sept. 11, 2001. It will begin at the same time as ceremonies on the East Coast with a moment of silence and ringing of the bells in New York City at Ground Zero.

• The 9/11 Remembrance Committee presents the 9/11 Remembrance 10th Anniversary Gala at the Las Vegas Hilton honoring the fallen with special guests John Feal, President of the Feal Good Foundation; Glenn Keith, vice president of the Feal Good Foundation and founder of True Blue NY; Lt. Gen. Buck Bedard, a Pentagon attack survivor; and Randy Black, commander, Nellis Support Team Services.

The event is black-tie optional and features local Las Vegas headliners and surprise guest performers, a red carpet and cocktail party. Proceeds will benefit the 9/11 Survivors Universal Solutions Fund, Operation Home Front Wounded Warriors, USE of Las Vegas and various honor guards. Tickets are $125.

• Canyon Ridge Christian Church will hold a memorial service at 6 p.m. in the main auditorium of the church.

•At 10 a.m., the city of Henderson will participate in a National Moment of Remembrance called Stop and Remember. The city’s first responders will sound their sirens for one minute. Firefighters will pull their vehicles out of the stations and police officers will pull safely to the side of the road, sounding their sirens and flashing their emergency lights.

The Clark County Museum, located in Henderson at 1830 S. Boulder Highway, will also participate by sounding a historic air raid siren.

• Gateway Arts hosts a musical salute to all the branches of the military featuring The Kid Fiddlers. Special guests include 2010 Gateway Scholarship winner Alex Christopher, Vic Moea, Rick Morris and Mary O. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Gateway Scholarship Fund for young Las Vegas artists. For reservations, call 702-255-0695.

• The Lakes Lutheran Church honors fallen heroes with a tree dedication ceremony, a flag ceremony by the Boy Scouts of America, a live band and a bounce house. A New York Police Department veteran will speak about his experience at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001. The event is from noon to 3 p.m.