By Neena Strichart
As nearly every one of us is aware, today marks the seventh anniversary of our nation’s worst tragedy since the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is usually referred to as 9/11 (pronounced as “nine – eleven”)- the perfect metaphor since 9-1-1 (pronounced “nine-one-one”) is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). One wonders if the evil plot was planned for that day as a way to mock us- or if the date was randomly chosen and was just a coincidence. Hmmm.
In a statement sent to us by the City of Signal Hill, folks are invited to pay tribute by visiting the Unity Monument… September 11, 2001 will forever live in our memories. Now known as Patriot Day, the day is set aside to pause and reflect upon the great loss which occurred that morning. To honor those who lost their lives in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania, the Unity Monument near Discovery Well Park was erected. Designed and created by Signal Hill artist Patrick Vogel, this twelve-foot-tall sculpture is made with five different metals- stainless steel, brass, copper, copper-nickel and nickel. The blending of these metals represents the cultural, racial, ethnic and religious diversity of our nation, all joined together as Americans. The shape is random in nature, which is a parallel to the event for which the memorial stands. The City encourages residents and those in the area to stop by the Unity Monument, located at the intersection of Skyline Drive and Temple Avenue, to pause and reflect upon that day seven years ago.
Long Beach Fire Department sent us a press release late yesterday to remind us of their annual memorial. Here are the details: September 11, 2008 marks the 7th anniversary of the tragic event that unfolded in New York in 2001. To recognize this date, Long Beach Firefighter Gary Biggerstaff has once again turned his front lawn into an impressive memorial display, dedicated to those that lost their lives that day.
The event begins in the afternoon with a motorcycle ride that begins at Cook’s Corner, near El Toro, in Orange County and will finish at Biggerstaff’s Long Beach home located at 257 Bennett Ave. The ceremony will begin at approximately 6 pm, upon arrival of the riders. Last year’s ceremony was well attended with about 300+ riders/firefighters and 1000 at the following ceremony. Two FDNY firefighters will be speaking at the ceremony and will conclude with a collective fraternal salute showing support for their fallen brothers and countrymen.
This event is open to the public and typically draws several hundred firefighters and families from around Southern California.
More information regarding the free ride and patriotic ceremony can be found by visiting http://www.remember911ride.com.
