Events commemorating 9/11 planned around county

From somber memorials honoring lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, to celebrations of the first responders who contributed to rescue efforts following the attacks of that day, a number of events have been scheduled in Clark County and beyond.

Poetry Reading

A Ghost Town Poetry reading will commemorate the 9/11 attacks with readings from Frank Hertle’s poem “September 11-The Missing,” written in November 2001. Christopher Luna will read from “more than we can bear,” his 100-page poem written during the year following the attacks.

When: 7 p.m. Thursday.

Where: Cover to Cover Books, 6300 N.E. St. James Road, Suite 104 B, Vancouver.

Telephone: 360-993-7777

On the Web: http://covertocoverbooks.net.

o Stories of Clark County residents who were in New York or Washington on 9/11.

o 9/11 Web page will feature photos, video, links and live coverage throughout the day.

Vancouver Peace and Justice Fair

More than 50 organizations that work on environmental issues, fair trade, animal rights, religious rights, gender issues, peace, economic and social justice will be represented at an event that aims to educate and celebrate the efforts made in the community. Children’s activities and entertainment kicks off in Esther Short Park with a drum circle.

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Esther Short Park, 301 Eighth St., Vancouver.

Admission: Free.

On the Web: http://vancouverpeaceandjusticefair.org.

Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency Open House

The Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency will offer tours of its Emergency Operations Center along with a “thank you first responders” coloring station, face painting, creative button-making, exploring emergency vehicles. Visitors will have an opportunity to meet firefighters, police officers, search and rescue dogs and horses. There will also be a geocaching event, which is a scavenger hunt to find items related to emergency preparedness. Preregister for geocaching at http://cresa911.blogspot.com.

When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Where: CRESA, 710 W. 13th St., Vancouver.

Telephone: 503-250-4882.

On the Web: http://cresa911.blogspot.com.

Freedom Walk

The Washington chapter of Operation Homefront will host a remembrance walk along the Columbia River, one of three such walks taking place across the state. Before the walk, a veterans honor guard will conduct a presentation of colors with the U.S. flag, and participants will be asked to join in singing the national anthem. The 2.5-mile walk begins at the Grand Central Fred Meyer, crosses over the Vancouver Land Bridge and goes through historic Fort Vancouver. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Sunday in the west end of the Fred Meyer parking lot.

When: 9 a.m. registration, 10 a.m. walk Sunday.

Where: Grand Central Fred Meyer, 2500 Columbia House Blvd., Vancouver.

Admission: $5 donation. Children under 12 free. First 500 online registrants get Freedom Walk T-shirts.

On the Web: http://vancouverfreedomwalk.org.

Memorial in the Park

In memory of those who perished, the Church of the Nazarene will conduct a memorial service led by state Sen. Craig Pridemore. The event will include a dedication of a memorial flagpole. There will also be booths and presentations by first response groups including firefighters, a canine search and rescue team, the bomb squad, Clark County Chaplains and TIPS. There will also be a car show.

When: 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Where: Fourth Plain Church of the Nazarene, 16807 N.E. Fourth Plain Road, Vancouver.

Telephone: 360-892-4462.

On the Web: http://nazarene.ch/fourthplain.

Tenth Anniversary 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

Vancouver Police and the Vancouver Fire Department are hosting Patriot Day events, featuring speakers Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt, Vancouver Fire Chief Joe Molina, and Clark County Sheriff Garry Lucas. There will also be an honor guard of police, fire and sheriff’s office personnel, a flyover by the Portland Air National Guard, music by the Vancouver Fire Department Pipe and Drum Band, a ceremonial fire department bell ringing, a flag ceremony with taps, and a balloon release in honor of the more than 400 first responders who lost their lives on 9/11. Also participating will be members of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Coast Guard.

When: 11 a.m. Sunday.

Where: Vancouver Landing Amphitheater, 110 Columbia St., Vancouver.

Telephone: 360-487-7490.

Weekend of Service in Remembrance

Evergreen Habitat for Humanity will be dedicating a homebuilding project in remembrance of 9/11. On Sunday, a symbolic groundbreaking will take place on a home constructed by all-women teams for a local family.

When: 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Groundbreaking at 1027 W. 39th St., Vancouver.

On the Web: http://ehfh.org.

Beyond Clark County

Roses and Steel, 9/11 Memorial

Lives lost on 9/11 will be honored at the Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue’s memorial, which contains a steel artifact from the World Trade Center at its center. Fire chief Dave LaFave will speak as the Honor Guard will raise the American flag with the firefighters in full turnout gear with a flyover from a Lifeflight helicopter. An open house of the fire station and refreshments will follow the ceremony.

When: 6:45 a.m. Sunday.

Where: Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue, 701 Vine St., Kelso.

Telephone: 360-578-5221.

Oregon Historical Society Commemorates the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11

Three Oregonians will share their experiences of 9/11. Mike Irwin, who was director of operations in the White House Military Office on that day and is now the Transportation Security Administration’s Oregon federal security director, will talk about his experiences. Gerry Frank, the author of a best-selling guide book to New York City, will discuss how 9/11 has changed the city. Katie Harman Ebner was crowed Miss America within weeks of 9/11 and devoted the next year to reaching out to New York City and America’s first responders. Firefighters, police officers and their families will be admitted free.

When: 2 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Oregon Historical Society pavilion, 1200 S.W. Park Ave., Portland.

Admission: $11; $9 for students and seniors; $5 for children 6-18; free for children 5 and younger.

On the Web: http://ohs.org.

Writers Reflect on 9/11

Join authors Tom Spanbauer, Tami Lynn Kent, Jennifer Lauck and Jessica Maxwell with a collective reading of their work and a reflection on how 9/11 changed personal worlds.

When: 4 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Powell’s on Hawthorne, 3723 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland.

Telephone: 503-228-4651 ext. 5889.

On the Web: http://powells.com.

Remembering September 11th: A Tenth Anniversary Interfaith Service

The Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon will host an interfaith service that will include reflections from leaders, music and the lighting of peace candles.

When: 6 p.m. Sunday.

Where: First United Methodist Church, 1838 S.W. Jefferson St., Portland.

Telephone: 503-221-1054.

On the Web: http://emoregon.org.