Gilbert Community Gathers to Remember 9/11
Gilbert residents gathered Sept. 11 at the town’s 9/11 Memorial Plaza for an annual ceremony remembering those killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks and honoring first responders, followed by a Tribute in Light symbolizing the World Trade Center’s twin towers.
The ceremony began at 6:30 p.m. at 50 E. Civic Center Drive and included members of Gilbert Fire and Rescue and the Gilbert Police Department. The event was followed by two beams of light projected into the sky from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. to represent the Twin Towers.
Gilbert’s memorial contains an eight-foot steel beam that once supported the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Four granite walls surrounding the beam display the names of people who died on Sept. 11, 2001. The memorial was unveiled in 2011 on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.
The ceremony was also connected to Gilbert’s National Day of Service activities. The town encouraged residents to honor the anniversary through volunteer work supporting organizations and community members. Service activities included creating items for foster children, refugees, seniors and other community members.
The memorial’s steel beam was transported from New York to Gilbert in 2011 by former Gilbert Fire Chief Collin DeWitt and then-Assistant Fire Chief Jim Jobusch. The beam was later incorporated into the permanent memorial.
The annual ceremony gives members of the Gilbert community an opportunity to remember those who lost their lives, recognize first responders and participate in community service.
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Hi! I really enjoyed reading your post about Gilbert’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony. Your post follows the formatting we learned about pretty well! However, I feel like the 4th paragraph and the 5th one should be switched. Besides the technical aspect, I think it’s so meaningful that people continue to come together year after year to remember those who unfortunately lost their lives in the horrific attacks and to honor/recognize the first responders who had to make sacrifices to serve. One thing that I found particularly interesting is the fact that the permanent memorial has a piece of the North Tower as part of it. It makes me wonder if other parts of the Towers were sent around the U.S. to be part of various memorials. If so, that would be a powerful display of unity. Anyways, another thing I really enjoyed is the fact that the community connects the National Day of Service with the ceremony. Honoring those affected by 9/11 through volunteer work and acts of service is very meaningful and allows for reflection on the selfless service displayed that day. I think your post does a great job reporting on this event in a way that’s all-encompassing and compassionate.
Hi Witley, I thought this was a really interesting article not only because I’ve been there, but also because it gave a lot of important information about Gilbert’s 9/11 memorial and how we try to remember the people who died during the attacks. I liked that you included specific details about the ceremony, like the time it started, where it was held, and when the tribute in the sky took place. It makes the story feel more like an actual news article and helps the reader understand exactly what happened. I liked that you talked about the National Day of Service because it showed that the event was about more than just remembering 9/11. It gave people a way to honor those who were lost by helping the other people in their community. One thing that could make the article even stronger would be adding a quote from someone who attended the ceremony or a first responder. Hearing directly from someone who was there could make the story feel more personal and give the reader a better idea of what the event itself was like. Overall, I think you did a really good job explaining the event and its importance to Gilbert.