Cities throughout Riverside County will mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks Friday with flag ceremonies, moments of silence and other commemorations.
In Corona, a remembrance service is slated for 5 a.m. Friday in the Historic Civic Center at 815 W. Sixth St., where Corona Chamber of Commerce officials will be joined by city representatives and others to pay homage to the 2,977 people who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist acts.
Over a roughly three-hour period, attendees will read the names of all those confirmed killed. Moments of silence and bell rings are scheduled to mark the exact times when the airliners struck the Twin Towers and Pentagon, and when a fourth crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The service is expected to continue until about 10 a.m.
In Jurupa Valley, beginning at 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 11, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10267 will host a 9/11 flag-raising ceremony, during which VFW members and Riverside County firefighters will salute the colors to coincide with the moment American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower. That will be followed by a bell-ringing to honor the fallen. About 75 people are slated to attend the ceremony at 8607 Mission Blvd.
In Cabazon, starting around 8 a.m. on Sept. 11, the Morongo Reservation Fire Department will host the “9/11 Memorial Stair Climb,” joined by firefighters from other agencies. Participants will go up and down the 27-story Morongo Resort Tower, 49500 Seminole Drive, to replicate the 2,200 steps taken by crews who perished during rescue operations at the Twin Towers. The climbs are slated to continue until 1 p.m.
In Riverside, a “Day of Remembrance Ceremony” is set for 8:30 a.m. in Riverside Fire Department Station No. 1, at the intersection of University Avenue and Lime Street. There will be a moment of silence, flag ceremony and other solemnities to mark the occasion, attended by firefighters, police officers and members of the City Council.
At 5:30 p.m., Murrieta will hold a service in the Town Square Park Amphitheater, 11 Town Square, during which there will be a convocation, flag ceremony and remarks by Mayor John Levell.
“We will honor the lives lost, the heroes who responded and the enduring spirit of our nation,” the city stated.
At 6 p.m., Temecula will hold a commemorative service at the Civic Center, 41000 Main St.
“This will be an evening of reflection on the 25th anniversary of September 11th, as we honor those who gave their lives to serve and protect,” according to a municipal statement.
The mayor, public safety leaders and other members of the community are set to be on hand.