Citywide Events Highlight Tenth Anniversary after September 11th Attacks including Lighting Coit Tower in Red, White and Blue

9/8/11—Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the San Francisco events around the City commemorating the decade since September 11, 2001 attacks on America. The City and County of San Francisco continues to honor those whose lives were lost in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on four hijacked commercial airplanes and those who gave their lives as first responders to rescue others. Many of the victims of that fateful day had family and friends in the Bay Area, and the City joins all Americans in mourning their tragic loss. This year in San Francisco, this spirit of unity will be rekindled by coming together at major community gatherings from remembrance services to cultural and sporting events. Opera in the Park by San Francisco Opera in cooperation with the San Francisco Interfaith Council being held in Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park is the City’s official civic observance of the tenth anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001.

“The attacks on 9/11 represent a great tragedy, and although we were 3,000 miles away, the loss is certainly felt in our City. It is important to me and to the people of San Francisco that we honor the fallen including San Francisco heroes Betty Ong, Mark Bingham and all others who died that day, and take time to reflect on what that day means for all of us,” said Mayor Lee. “The world changed that day, but keeping our City safe remains my highest priority. Working together with City agencies and law enforcement, our City is stronger than it was on 9/11, more prepared and more resilient than ever.”

The events of September 11, 2001 redefined the nation, not only in the scope of the tragedy but also in the demonstration of compassion and generosity that occurred in the hours, weeks and months following. In San Francisco, and around the country, individuals stepped up to give blood, collect donations and volunteer their time as a show of support for our nation.

As a mark of respect for the individuals who lost their lives, President Barack Obama has ordered flags to be displayed at half-staff on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11, 2011. In accordance with this request, Mayor Lee asked that all flags on City and County buildings and grounds be lowered from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, September 11, 2011.

Coit Tower will be lit red, white and blue starting at dusk on Friday, September 9, 2011 through Sunday, September 11, 2011, in remembrance of those who died in the terrorist attacks and to honor the first responders who rushed in to save lives. Special acknowledgements to James Kiely and members of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Hartmann Studios, Impact Lighting and Generators Unlimited for their assistance.

The Opera in the Park event will help celebrate the lives of the victims and provide solace to their loved ones. The official civic observance event will be held in Golden Gate Park and begin at 2pm. Presented by the San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Opera in conjunction with the Office of the Mayor in cooperation with the San Francisco Interfaith Council, Opera in the Park will feature musical pieces including Mozart’s Requiem in D minor, as well as pieces composed by Arlen, Bernstein, Copland, Copland, Christopher Theofanidis, and John Williams.

Below is a list of other San Francisco events that are occurring the weekend of September 10-11:

Saturday, September 10, 2011

· SF Police Officer’s Association and SF Firefighters Union, Local 798, observance of 9/11 at Civic Center Plaza, 11am
· 21st Annual Autumn Moon Festival in Chinatown at California and Grant (2-day event, September 10-11), 11am

Sunday, September 11, 2011

· 2nd Annual SF Memorial Stair Climb at the TransAmerica Building, 7:30am - 4pm
· HandsOn Bay Area at the War Memorial Building, 9:30am
· SFPD/SFFD Annual Mass at St. Monica’s Church, 5900 Geary Boulevard, 10:30am
· Castro Street 9/11 Observance at Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro and Market, 1pm
· SF Giants vs. LA Dodgers at AT&T Park, 1:05pm
· SF 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park, 1:15pm
· Annual SF Opera in the Park in Sharon Meadows in Golden Gate Park, 2pm (City’s official civic observance of the 9/11 anniversary)
· The University of San Francisco and St. Ignatius Parish’s 9/11 service at St. Ignatius Church, 8pm

These tributes and events are listed on Mayor Lee’s Remembering 9/11 - 10 Year Anniversary webpage at www.sfgov.org/sf911events.