How You Can Observe Sunday, Sept. 11

Los Altos Patch has put together a list of selected events to commemorate 9/11, some near, some farther, some short, some requiring a few hours.

There are many ways to mark the occasion. But don't let the day go by without thinking of what came before and how it has changed us.

The following is a list of local observances of the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

There are solemn ceremonies at parks and moving performances at concert halls. Some are fundraisers, some are barbecues, some are dinner and thoughtful discussion. Some are church or interfaith services, including the National Requiem.

If volunteering is your desire, some communities are participating in National Day of Service as a forward-looking tribute to sacrifice. 

SANTA CLARA COUNTY:

Campbell

10 a.m. Blue Star Moms Fundraiser Brunch: Patrons will kick off the NFL season at Boswells for brunch. Proceeds from breakfast go to Blue Star Moms, as does every pint of Blue Moon draft beer sold during the day.

Los Altos Hills

6 p.m. : The church, led by Father Samer Youssef, will hold a special service and moment of silence for the victims during the church's . Take shuttle from , where there is parking. The church was rebuilt in 2005 after an arson fire destroyed the original in what was investigated by federal authorities as a hate crime. 

Menlo Park

9/11 Commemoration—Pledging to Build a Path toward Peace: The Trinity Church in Menlo Park will have a 9/11 service that will include a new prayer book that draws from the three traditions of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar with readings and prayers for peace.  Speakers from each faith will share their rituals to honor the dead and those who have lost their lives, providing a means of reconciling ourselves with one another and to the holy one. Islamic Network Group speaker Shahzad Chaudry will represent Muslims in the service. Location: Trinity Church in Menlo Park, 330 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park.

Mountain View

11 a.m. : This starts with a downtown processional beginning at Bryant and Mercy streets on one side and Mercy and Hope streets on the other, joining at Mercy and Castro streets. The processional of public safety, military and service clubs will move down Castro Street and end at the Civic Center. A lowering of the flag to half-staff, speakers and moment of silence will be observed.

Palo Alto

9 a.m. 9/11 Memorial Event:  Join the mayor and City Council at a special 10th anniversary memorial event to recognize those who lost their lives from the terrorist attack. Nearly 2,900 flags placed in the grassy area at the corner of Newell and Embarcadero roads in front of the  will provide the backdrop to this memorial event. There will be a brief ceremony that includes council members adding the last few flags and music to close out this solemn event. After the ceremony, participants are invited to walk the few blocks to Eleanor Pardee Park and visit the city's 9/11 memorial site.

1:30 p.m. Stanford National Requiem of Remembrance: There will be a performance of Mozart's Requiem in D Minor at  featuring Schola Cantorum, an 80-member chorus based in Mountain View. Part of the National Requiem, this performance will be the second time Schola Cantorum and Stanford's Office for Religious Life have collaborated in a memorial performance of Mozart's Requiem to honor the victims of 9/11. The performance is free and open to the public.

8 p.m. : This is an interfaith community gathering with music, prayers and candlelight vigil in Schultz Cultural Arts Hall, , 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. Free.

San Francisco

2 p.m. 10th Anniversary of 9/11: Opera in the Park: The city's official event with the San Francisco Interfaith Council transforms the annual Opera in the Park to a citywide observance, featuring Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor, as well as works by Christopher Theofanidis, Harold Arlen, Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and John Williams. Music director Nicola Luisotti will conduct. During the Mozart Requiem, meditation texts will be read by representatives of various religious traditions that make up the San Francisco Interfaith Council. Location: Sharon Meadows, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Free.

9 a.m. National Day of Service Events: The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department will have three tribute projects in partnership with Hands On Bay Area. Volunteers will gather at the Veterans War Memorial Building courtyard (near 401 Van Ness Ave.) to honor the memories of the victims of 9/11 and then give tribute to the fallen by serving at community projects. Registration and a light breakfast will be followed by a 20-minute program. At 10 a.m., volunteers will disperse to their projects. Project sites include Jefferson Park, Margaret Hayward Playground and Patricia's Green. For more information, visit sfrecpark.org. People must register to take part; registrants receive a free T-shirt.

The Presidio Trust also has a tribute project restoring habitat at a site called Park Scrub at Mountain Lake. Registration free, but required. 

San Jose

11:30 a.m. 9/11 Patriot Day: The city of San Jose's observance begins with Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, 80 S. Market St., followed at 12:40 p.m. by a memorial march down Market Street to Fire Station One and the Ringing of the Last Alarm at 1:30 p.m. to remember the first responders who gave their lives to save others. Keynote speaker, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, will discuss reflections on 9/11. Mayor Chuck Reed, Supervisor Dave Cortese, Councilman Sam Liccardo, Fire Chief William McDonald, Police Chief Chris Moore and Assemblywoman Nora Campos will also attend.

Participating agencies include the San Jose Fire Department, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, Santa Clara Fire Department and city of Cupertino.

8 p.m. Into Light: A 9/11 Memorial Concert: This performance will be in the San Jose State University Music Concert Hall. SJSU President Mohammad Qayoumi will offer opening remarks. The SJSU Air Force ROTC color guard will participate, and there will be a candlelight vigil afterward. 

Santa Clara

5 p.m. From Fear to Friendship: Light the Night for Peace and Friendship: This is an intimate dinner, program and candlelight vigil with Rev. James Lawson (called "the leading nonviolence theorist in the world" by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), Imam Alaeddin Elbakri, Supervisor Dave Cortese, Imam Faheem Shuaibe, Assemblyman Jim Beall, Imam Tahir Anwar. Sponsored by American Muslim Voice and Silicon Valley Interreligious Council at the Muslim Community Association, 3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara.

Santa Cruz

4-6:30 p.m. : This is one of several stations to commemorate the anniversary and share hopeful visions for a peaceful Santa Cruz County community. Participants can record short messages of gratitude to local first responders. Organizers hope to gather more than 200 peace tiles from "Projects for Peace" stations across the country to assemble a traveling "peace tile mural" installation to inspire civic engagement and actions to create greater unity and peace. For information: 831-427-5070 or lead@scvolunteercenter.org; Memorial Plaza, 1550 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz (outside of Jamba Juice). 

Watsonville

Noon : 
Fire departments, police agencies and other first responders will be honored at in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11. A fly-over and a 21-gun salute will take place. John Blauvelt, a survivor who escaped the twin towers that day, will be present at the event. The audience will be invited to the speedway infield to plant small flags at the base of the monument flagpole that will stay for the duration of the fair. The agencies and the American Red Cross will have information booths. There's also a country-western band and barbecue. Free. 

Union City: 

1 p.m. : The hour-long ceremony will feature a special Honor Guard, the singing of the national anthem, a 21-gun salute and the reading of the heroes names. It will conclude with the mournful notes of taps. The public is invited to share this simple, yet moving, ceremony to honor the Heroes of Flight 93, experience the elegant power of the memorial’s design and ponder the words, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”