Community Event: Sonoma Remembers 9/11

Though the twin towers fell across the country on September 11, 2001, an entire nation stopped to watch the horrors of the terrorist attack play out in real-time.

On Sunday, September 11, Sonoma will again pause and reflect on the events of that day ten years ago, with a day of commemoration.

"[The day's] purpose is to observe, remember, contemplate and honor those who died that day," said organizer Ken Brown in an email.

A full day of events is planned. (See the complete schedule, at right.)

At 6:30 am, early birds will gather at Fire Station , 630 2nd Street West, for a Silent Bell Ceremony, a reading of names of those fire, police and transit officials who gave their lives in the line of duty on Sept. 11 and a rendition of the National Anthem by staffer Perrin Cutting. Complimentary bagels and coffee will be provided.

Beginning at 9 am the Plaza Amphitheater will play host to a reading of all who perished on the day. 

At noon the somber mood will break for lunch: the  Sonoma Hometown Band will perform behind City Hall while attendees snack on BBQ beef sandwiches, beer, wine and soda from the .

The "Official Ceremony" starts with a moment of silence at 1 pm; following with another rendition of the National Anthem, sung by Soprano Teressa Byrne Foss, an invocation by Rev. Nancy Taylor, and a City of Sonoma Proclamation by Mayor Laurie Gallian.

Keynote speakers include Fred Gusman, Executive Director of The Pathway Home and a recipient of the 'Faces of Strength' award from the U.S. Army and Sonoma City Council Member Ken Brown.

A very special collaboration from the Sonoma Valley Chorale, the Valley of the Moon Chamber Ensemble and the St. Andrew Singers will then present a program that will include "Kyrie" from Memorial, by Rene Clausen, which is being performed all over the United States and the World as part of GLOBAL SING FOR PEACE.

Wrapping up the day’s events will be a selection of tunes from Sonoma's newest singing group, The Hot Flashes and Sonoma's homegrown King of Country Swing, Tommy Thomsen & Friends. They will be playing in the Plaza Amphitheater and help us look forward positively to the future of Sonoma, of our great country and the world.

Donations to the Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority Volunteers will be gratefully accepted. They should be sent to: Attention Tom Deely 630 2nd Street West. SVF&RA will be selling T-shirts, giving out information & raising money for the 2012 fireworks as well.

The organizers want to acknowledge with gratitude significant donations from Renee and Rick Dellar, Sarah and Darius Anderson, Fred and Barbara White Perry, August and Alison Sebastiani, Bank of Marin, Sonoma Garbage Co., Citta Slow Sonoma Valley, Council Member Tom Rouse, David Goodison, David Ewing, Sonoma Mayor Laurie Gallian and many others. This event was the idea of David Irvine, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Sonoma Valley Chorale.