Observe the 25th anniversary of 9/11 at these Valley events
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There will be several Sept. 11 observances throughout the Valley. Photo: Fatih Aktas /Anadolu via Getty Images
Friday marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people and memorial events across the Valley offer residents ample opportunity to reflect.
Here's a non-exhaustive list of Sept. 11 observances:
Phoenix: On Thursday, the city will host "Voices Across Generations," a discussion between "young people who were not yet born on 9/11," per a city announcement, and members of Arizona Task Force 1, which deployed to assist efforts at Ground Zero in New York City.
- KJZZ's Mark Brodie will facilitate the discussion, which will take place 6-7:30pm at Memorial Hall at Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road
- The event is free and open to the public.
What they're saying: The event "gives us an opportunity to share history in a deeply personal way, and to remind ourselves of what is possible when people come together in moments of crisis," Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said in a press release.
Tempe: Thursday through Sunday, the Exchange Club of Tempe will present its annual "Healing Field" memorial, for which thousands of American flags will be placed throughout Tempe Beach Park to represent each victim of the attacks.
- There will be a ceremonial reading of the victims' names at 5:46am on Friday — the time in Arizona that the first plane hit the World Trade Center — and a candlelight vigil at 7pm.
- 6:30-8:30pm on Saturday, there will be a "Freedom Concert" featuring patriotic songs.
- The Tunnel to Towers Foundation 5K run/walk at Tempe Beach Park, for which registration is required, will be Sunday.
Mesa: At 7:30am on Friday, the Military Assistance Mission will host a Freedom Breakfast at the DoubleTree Hilton at 1011 W. Holmes Ave.
- An individual seat costs $200, while a table sponsorship starts at $2,000.
Scottsdale: Replicas representing the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, an airplane wing and other items will be on display in city libraries and at Scottsdale police and fire headquarters.
- Visitors to each location will receive a commemorative gift, per the city.
- The city will also host a name-reading ceremony for victims at 6am on Friday at the West Bowl of Scottsdale Civic Center. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs as the event will last up to 2 1/2 hours.
Gilbert: The city is hosting a memorial ceremony at 6:30pm on Friday at the city's 9/11 Memorial Plaza, which features a beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
- That will be followed by a Tribute in Light, with two beams of light projected into the sky to symbolize the towers, which will last until 10:30pm.
Glendale: State Farm Stadium will host the annual "9/11 Tower Challenge," in which participants climb 2,071 steps in the stadium, matching the number in each tower of the World Trade Center.
- You can register early or starting at 6am the morning of. The event begins at 7 am.