Bay Area to honor Sept. 11 through ceremonies

SAN JOSE, Calif.

There will be an hour-long commemoration at the San Jose Giants Municipal Stadium and it will be followed by a free lunch. It will be one of dozens of events taking place across the Bay Area.

Public 9/11 events start early in Oakland, a pre-dawn silent vigil will take place in conjunction with the newly unveiled Champions For Humanity monument. In San Francisco at 6:59 a.m. Sunday every fire station will mark the time of the South Tower collapse with the ringing of chimes. There will also be a special remembrance at the San Francisco 49ers' season home opener against the Seattle Seahawks.

"Unfurling of a field-long American flag which we have never at Candlestick before and then a national anthem performance by Brian McKnight which we are really excited about," said Ali Towle, the 49ers director of marketing.

In the South Bay, thousands will gather at the San Jose's Giants stadium. Pastor Dwight Bailey, from Church of the Chimes, is helping to organize a faith-based ceremony that will honor the victims and heroes of September 11.

"We are also hoping that as we unite together there will be strength in saying, 'Hey, there's something more in store, there's hope,'" said Pastor Bailey.

At many events special recognition will be paid to first responders and those who have and still are serving in the military. Air Force Lt. Colonel Kim Campbell is a fighter pilot who was called to duty after the terrorists attacks. She is also San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed's daughter. He will be attending two 9/11 events.

"My daughter and son in law were among the first to go to Iraq and have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times. My daughter has over a hundred combat missions and so it's been very personal to me," said Reed.

It is a day on which, at some point, every American will likely pause to remember and reflect.

"Were planning to put out the flag in front and on the back patio and just remember the people who gave their lives that day," said San Jose resident Liz Giarratanna.

I am certainly honored to have been asked to participate in the event on Sunday taking place at the San Jose Giants' stadium.

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