A day to honor and look back

Los Angeles County is thousands of miles from the devastation of 9/11, but the terrorist attacks continue to reverberate strongly here and across the nation.

This Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, Los Angeles marks the 10^th anniversary of the tragedy with events honoring victims and their families and the bravery of emergency responders who risked and sacrificed in the rescue and recovery efforts. Here are a few of the events taking place in the Third District and beyond.

As part of a day of observances beginning at 8:30 a.m., Pepperdine University will fly 2,976 flags on its lawn in Malibu–one for each person who perished. The victims’ names will be recited at a ceremony where some of their family members and local leaders, including Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, will offer personal reflections. The film “United 93,” depicting the flight that went down in rural Pennsylvania, will be shown in an auditorium later in the day.

Beverly Hills will mark the anniversary by dedicating a 9/11 Memorial Garden that features replicas of the Twin Towers and an 1,800 pound piece of steel from the original buildings, set on a pedestal.

Sherman Oaks’ existing memorial, made from the towers’ steel and limestone from the Pentagon, sits in front of Los Angeles Fire Department Station 88. At 7 p.m., officials and family of 9/11 victims will speak. All are welcome.

A 9 a.m. remembrance ceremony in honor of those who died will be held at the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center, 1700 Stadium Way, Los Angeles, featuring an array of city, county and federal officials.

At noon on the South Lawn of Los Angeles City Hall, some of those same dignitaries, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Police Chief Charlie Beck, Interim Fire Chief Brian Cummings and public safety representatives from all levels of government will take part in a ceremony honoring 9/11 victims and their families, first responders who traveled from L.A. to Ground Zero, and LAPD officers who lost their lives fighting in Afghanistan.

A few blocks down Temple Street at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, the 120-member Angeles Chorale will perform a free musical tribute to 9/11 victims at 4:30 p.m.

Other events Sunday include the “Tunnel to Towers Run” at the L.A. County Fair, honoring military and first responders and their families.

Posted 9/8/11