News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 9, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke Announces Details of ‘Washington State September 11 Memorial & Procession’

SEATTLE- Gov. Gary Locke today announced the detailed program for the “Washington State September 11 Memorial & Procession,” which starts at noon Wednesday in downtown Seattle.

This statewide memorial at Westlake Center will allow people to remember the victims of last year’s Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and honor the “everyday heroes” in our own state - people who make a profound difference in their communities. These heroes include firefighters, police officers and emergency services workers, volunteers at non-profit organizations, community groups and countless others.

The governor encouraged the people of Washington to attend Sept. 11 memorials, such as the one at Westlake Center, to show the resilience of our nation.

“We must come together as a community on September 11 to show that tolerance and hope overcome hatred and fear in this great nation,” Locke said. “Our statewide memorial and procession provide a chance for us to collectively reflect on September 11 and move forward as a community in a hope- and spirit-filled way. We are honoring the people who became heroes on September 11 - and all those who display acts of heroism and personal sacrifice in their everyday lives.”

The Governor’s Office and the Seattle Mayor’s Office have been working closely together to plan and orchestrate the statewide memorial and procession.

“We will honor the heroes we’ve lost and those we’ve found - those who make extraordinary choices in their ordinary lives,” said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. “The enduring lesson from September 11 is the strength we find in our community, our values and our freedom.”

The Westlake Center memorial service will begin at noon and will include a statewide minute of silence around 12:15 p.m.

Sept. 11 Memorial Program*
Starting at noon

Following is the detailed program for the Washington State September 11 Memorial:

· Bagpiper plays signaling the start of the service
· Presentation of colors by Washington State Patrol Honor Guard followed by the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” by all
· Joint invocation led by area religious leaders, including:
- Sister Joyce Cox, Archdiocese of Seattle
- The Rev. Kathlyn James, Seattle First United Methodist Church
- Jamil Razzak, Idris Mosque
- Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Temple De Hirsch Sinai
· Gov. Gary Locke leads Sept. 11 remembrance
· Seattle Men’s Chorus sings “For the Fallen” followed by a minute of silence (12:15 p.m.)
· Tolling of memorial bell (21 times) by World Trade Center survivor(s), victims’ family members and Washington State Patrol Honor Guard
· Founding conductor Debbie Cavitt and the Leschi Elementary School Choir from the Seattle Public Schools sing “Wind Beneath My Wings”
· Gov. Locke delivers keynote speech on honoring everyday heroes
· Remarks from an eyewitness and survivor of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks
· Remarks from Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels
· Remarks from King County Executive Ron Sims
· Locke lights “Remembrance Candle” and invites public to participate in the one-mile silent procession to Seattle Center
· Seattle Men’s Chorus and Debbie Cavitt and the Leschi Elementary School Choir lead the crowd in singing “We Shall Overcome” and “God Bless America”
· Locke, elected officials, dignitaries, honor guards and “everyday heroes” exit to lead procession to Seattle Center, where the city hosts additional observances

*Program details and order may change.

After the memorial service, Locke, Nickels and Sims will lead a one-mile silent procession down Fourth Avenue to Seattle Center’s “Community Reflection” event at the International Fountain. The procession will include the 39 “everyday heroes,” representing Washington’s counties, who will carry his or her county flag to Seattle Center.

Sept. 11 Procession Program*
Starting approximately 1 p.m.

Following is the planned order for the Washington State September 11 Procession:

Three police vehicles from the City of Seattle, King County and Washington State Patrol
Honor Guard carrying U.S. and Washington flags, followed by a bass drummer to set the cadence
Additional Honor Guard (eight rows, six people deep)
Gov. Gary Locke, Mayor Greg Nickels and King County Executive Ron Sims, followed by other elected officials and guests
County flags carried by Washington’s 39 “everyday heroes” - one from each county
Two regiments of police and fire personnel (two columns 15 each and their command)
Public safety personnel and the public
Three police vehicles (Seattle, King County and State Patrol)
Possibly concluding with up to 250 Washington state firefighters coming from Benaroya Hall

*Program details and order may change.

More information on the “Washington State September 11 Memorial & Procession” and other observances around the state is available on the governor’s Sept. 11 Web site at www.governor.wa.gov/remember/remember.htm and at the City of Seattle’s site at www.cityofseattle.net/september_11/.

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