Cal Expo will open the September 11 Memorial Plaza on Tuesday, September 11 from 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. The public is welcome to come and visit to reflect and remember the victims of the 9/11 tragedy that happened 17 years ago. The Plaza is a permanent structure featuring an I-beam extracted from Ground Zero, which had been a support beam from the North Tower. The Plaza also features a granite sphere fountain inscribed with all the names of the victims, as well as a carillon bell tower, reflections of the World Trade Center, and individual memorials to American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93, aborted in a field in Pennsylvania.
Memorial Ceremony services provided by Brotherhood American Combat Veterans and California Mexican American Veterans Memorial, Inc. begins at 8:00 a.m. and will run approximately half an hour with the following schedule of events.
Post Colors
Marine Corps League Folsom W. H. Nichols Detachment # 940
Invocation/Opening Blessings
Chaplain Mindi Russell, Sacramento Police Department
The Pledge of Allegiance
Jim Hastings, Retired Marine Corps Captain, Korean War Veteran
National Anthem
Phil Rios, US Army MP Corps Veteran
Ceremonial Bagpiper
Chuck Jamison, US Army
Wreath Laying
Phil Rios, Representative of California Mexican American Veterans Memorial, Inc.
Rick Pickering, C.E.O. and General Manager of California Exposition & State Fair
Benediction/Closing Blessing
Senior Chaplain Kevin Snider, Sacramento Fire Department
MC
Rosie Gayton, Member VFW Post 67 Auxiliary & Board Member of Mexican American Sports Hall of Fame Association
Speakers include
Rick Pickering, C.E.O.& General Manager of California Exposition & State Fair
Ami Bera, M.D., U.S. Congressman, CA District 7
Dr. Richard Pan, California State Senator, District 6
Kevin McCarty, California State Assembly Member, District 7
Elizabeth Perez, Deputy Secretary of Women & Minority Veterans Affairs, Cal Vet
Sue Frost, Sacramento County Supervisors, District 4
Eric Guerra, Sacramento City Councilman, District 6
Paulette Spaeth-Rios, Member VFW Post 67 Auxiliary
Parking and memorial are free. Park and enter through the Main Gate and follow signs to the September 11 Memorial Plaza.
For questions or to schedule media stories, please contact Deputy General Manager Business Development & Marketing, Margaret Mohr at (916) 263-3598.
