State Sen. Bob Dutton, Assemblyman Mike Morrell, County Supervisor Neil Derry, San Bernardino Mayor Patrick Morris, Highland Mayor Larry McCallon, Yucaipa Mayor Dick Riddell as well as Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar have each confirmed that they will take part in the Sept. 11 Observance at 6 p.m. in the Redlands Bowl. Bishop Gerald Barnes of the Diocese of San Bernardino will also attend. Invitations have also been extended to congregations representing every faith and denomination throughout Redlands. Members of the Redlands Unified School District Board of Education will also take part in the observance.
Event organizers, including representatives from the Redlands Area Interfaith Council, local educators, community groups, first responders and City officials, have been encouraged by the support from throughout the region. The committee has planned an inclusive observance that they hope will draw attendance from throughout the neighboring cities.
“We are honored to have the Mayors of our surrounding communities as well as county and state elected officials joining us for this observance in Redlands,” said former Redlands Mayor Kasey Haws, who co-chairs the event with Rabbi Douglas Kohn of Congregation Emanu El. “One of the themes of this event will be the ‘coming together’ of our communities and our nation as a result of the events of 9-11 and their participation with us actually captures the very theme we hope to convey on that evening. We hope their participation will encourage residents across the region to join us at the Bowl.”
The event, to be held at the Redlands Bowl at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, the 10th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, will include music from the Redlands Fourth of July Band and local high school choirs, reflections from local dignitaries, including Mayor Aguilar, former Mayor Haws, University of Redlands President James Appleton and area students. It will also include a tribute to emergency responders and a salute to members of the armed forces. Redlands Fire Chief Jeff Frazier, among the emergency responders at Ground Zero in New York City in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, will share his personal experiences.
The City of Redlands held a commemoration at the Bowl in 2002, on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. A statue dedicated to the memory of the victims and the first responders stands in Smiley Park near the Redlands Police Annex. Then-Mayor Haws, who presided at the 2002 commemoration and led the efforts to install the statue, co-chairs the committee along with Rabbi Douglas Kohn of Congregation Emanu El.
Other committee members include Mayor Pro Tem Paul Foster, City Council Member Jon Harrison, Rose Palmer, Lois Lauer, Curtiss Allen, Mike Ballinger, Bill Solberg, Fire Chief Frazier, Police Chief Mark Garcia, Lt. Rogelio Garcia, Sgt. Ricky Smith, Tabetha Johnson, Mario Saucedo, Redlands Unified School District Board President Patty Holohan, School Board Member Neal Waner, Linda Apmadoc, Alan DeZon, John Walsh, George Barich, Carl Baker and Kevin Gustafson.
Those who wish to contact the committee may send an email to Kasey Haws at khaws@mohlaw.com <mailto:khaws@mohlaw.com> or call (909) 890-9500.