The annual California 9/11 Memorial Remembrance Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, September 11, at the California 9/11 Memorial in Clovis. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. and is open to the public at 3485 Never Forget Lane.
This year’s guest speaker is Erik O. Ronningen, an author and survivor of the September 11 attacks. Ronningen was on the 71st floor of the South Tower when it was struck and was the last person to exit the building alive. According to organizers, “He served as a First Lt. in the United States Army Corps of Engineers after college.”
Other memorial events are planned throughout the region. Fresno City College will hold a ceremony starting at 9 a.m. Thursday in front of its Veterans Peace Memorial near Weldon and College avenues. The program includes a wreath march with retired biology instructor Scott Porteous playing bagpipes and keynote remarks from Rick Jimenez, pastor at Rivergate Ministries in Fresno and former Marine Corps drill sergeant.
A moment of silence will be observed during this ceremony along with the traditional ringing of the bell to honor fallen firefighters. Organizers note that while most deaths on September 11 were civilians, more than 440 first responders died that day.
In Madera County, local leaders and county supervisors will gather at Courthouse Park for another remembrance event at 9 a.m., held in front of downtown’s firefighter memorial which features an original steel beam from the World Trade Center. The ceremony will include a presentation of colors, speeches from keynote speakers, and a bell salute by CAL FIRE L2881 Honor Guard.
The Madera memorial notes that among those who died on September 11 were 2,977 people including 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement members.
