Contact: Denise Rentschler, City of Tempe Public Information Officer
Phone: (480) 350-5209
E-mail: Denise_Rentschler@tempe.gov
Sunday, Sept. 9 - Tuesday, Sept. 11| 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 10 | 7 p.m. | Freedom Concert
Tuesday, Sept. 11 | 5:46 a.m.| Memorial Ceremony
Tuesday, Sept. 11 | 7 p.m. | Candlelight Vigil
TEMPE, Ariz. – Eleven years ago this Sept. 11, in New York City, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon, a typical Tuesday morning quickly became a national nightmare. A “faceless coward” attacked the United States, taking as its victims 2,977 civilians, military members and first responders.
In memory of those who perished, the Exchange Club of Tempe and the City of Tempe will present the ninth annual Healing Field Sunday, Sept. 9 – Tuesday, Sept. 11 at Tempe Beach Park, 80 E. Rio Salado Parkway.
Healing Field is the nation’s longest-running Sept. 11, 2001 tribute event, where one American flag is flown for every person who died as a result of the terrorist attacks on our nation. The public is invited to join neighbors, community leaders and public safety officers in a walk of remembrance through the flags.
“Eleven years have passed since the terrible attacks on September 11, 2011 and we are still saddened by the events of that morning,” said Mayor Mark Mitchell. “Tempe is honored to be part of this unique event that gives community members the opportunity to remember those who lost their lives and reflect on the freedom we share as citizens of this great nation.”
There will be a brief memorial ceremony that will include a presentation of colors, music, prayer and the reading of the names of the first responders who gave their lives. The ceremony will be held Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 5:46 a.m., the same time that the first plane struck the World Trade Center. Later that evening, a candlelight vigil with music, prayer and guest speakers will occur at 7 p.m.
In addition to the ceremonies on Tuesday, there will be a free memorial concert held Monday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. The American Red Cross will host a blood drive at Tempe Beach Park on Monday, Sept. 10 from 3 – 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. To make an appointment, visit
www.redcrossblood.org and use “ExchangeTempe” as the sponsor code. Walk-in donors are welcome.
To see a special Tempe 11 segment on Healing Field, visit Tempe 11’s YouTube channel at
www.youtube.com/tempe11video. For more information, visit
www.tempe.gov/healingfield.
About Valley of the Sun Exchange Clubs Foundation
Founded in 2004, the Valley of the Sun Exchange Clubs Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to making a difference in the lives of children, families and the Valley community as a whole, primarily by promoting the prevention of child abuse and providing support to families at risk. Additionally, the organization also provides major support to Healing Field, an annual memorial event at Tempe Beach Park that pays tribute to the lives lost during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Visit
www.vosecf.org for more information.
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