Communities across Weld, Larimer counties pay tribute to 20th anniversary of 9/11

Beginning early Saturday morning, communities across the nation gathered to honor the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks as well as remember those who lost their lives.

The day consisted of local and national ceremonies as well as television and radio memorials. Volunteers at some ceremonies took turns reading the names of the 2,977 people killed while other ceremonies partook in moments of silence.

In Windsor, hundreds of people gathered at the RainDance community for Remembrance Day despite the toasty weather.

The event kicked off with students from the Windsor High School band playing taps and a prayer for our country and its people, given by Windsor resident Reza Zadeh.

“This day marks the anniversary of a huge loss,” Zadeh said. “This is an incredible day of remembrance, and this event is not one we are excited to celebrate, but yet, it is an honor to pause and celebrate a day like this.”

Organizers of the event, along with several businesses and lots of community support, put the memorial event together in less than three months.

“This entire thing is absolutely beautiful. It’s incredible,” event designer Shalon Grassi said, holding back tears. “It’s a very, very special day for honor and remembrance of the 20th anniversary. It’s been beautiful how this community has come together to make this day so special.”

Some of the activities that took place throughout the day included skydivers, an F-16 flyover, live musical performances, a tractor pull, food trucks and a beer garden, bounce houses and a draft horse demonstration.

In addition to entertaining and remembering 9/11, Grassi hoped that the event was an educational opportunity for the younger people who were not alive during the attacks.

“They will think, ‘Oh I had fun, but I was also told to be quiet and pay my respects,’” Grassi explained. “It’s all about educating.”

Guest speaker Capt. Mark Hoog, an airline pilot, author of inspirational children’s’ books and a nationally sought after motivational speaker, took the stage to talk about how 9/11 affected him.

Hoog lost a close personal friend and mentor, Capt. Jason Dahl, the pilot of United Flight 93, in the attacks.

Six moments of silence were held throughout the day with the names of those killed displayed on LED screens.

The evening wrapped up with a fireworks show.

Over in Loveland, Foundations Church, 1380 Denver Ave., hosted a 9/11 Tribute Concert with the band, Blues Behind Bars.

The family friendly event featured Kona Ice and food trucks, cornhole games, bounce houses and more.

The Larimer County Republican Party chose a more subdued approach to mark the day with a candlelight vigil around Lake Loveland that began at sunset.

Upon checking in, attendees were given information about 9/11 and a candle to light in memory of the day.

Copper Sky Distillery, at 1115 Colorado Ave., in Longmont offered a limited release honoring the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The two-bottle set of bourbon reflected the distillery’s “deep appreciation for this nations, what it represents and all of those what have gone before us to keep it free.”

The Tribute in Light, a public art installation in New York City, takes place every year on the night of 9/11. Beginning at dusk and continuing until dawn, twin beams of light assembled on the roof of the Battery Parking Garage, south of the 9/11 Memorial, pierce the night sky.

The lights, comprised of 88 7,000-watt xenon light bulbs, mirror the shape of the Twin Towers and can be seen from a 60-mile radius around lower Manhattan.

The installation has become an iconic symbol honoring those killed in the attacks. A video of the lights can be found at https://bit.ly/3k4Udt6.

For more information on 9/11 and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, go to www.911memorial.org.