The public is invited to a 9/11 memorial event to be held at 9:11 a.m. at the Clark County Government Center in downtown Las Vegas at 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. A free car show will follow in the Government Center parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Sunday, Sept. 11th event will feature the Las Vegas Multiagency Honor Guard, remarks from Frank Pizarro, a firefighter who survived the attack in New York City on that day in 2001, remarks from Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick and Commission Chairman Jim Gibson, the ringing of the bell ceremony to honor firefighters who gave their lives in the terrorist attacks, a musical performance by Technical Sgt. Ben Ekblad, an active-duty Nellis Air Force Base service member, prayer and more.
Nellis Air Force jets will perform a flyover of the event during the singing of the National Anthem. Clark County Fire Chief John Steinbeck, who deployed to New York’s Ground Zero with a FEMA team after the attack, will serve as master of ceremonies.
Pizarro, a 21½ -year New York City firefighter, will display a restored 1991 Pierce Pumper fire engine used to carry caskets of fallen firefighters across the West Coast at the ceremony. The firefighter memorial transport is dedicated to the memory of Raymond Pfeifer, who died from a 9/11-related illness and who went to Washington, D.C., with television host Jon Steward to fight for a 9/11 victims compensation fund.
The event will be carried live on Clark County Television (CCTV) and Clark County’s Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and YouTube accounts. CCTV is available in the Las Vegas area on Channel 4 on Cox cable as well as in Laughlin on Channel 14 via Suddenlink. CCTV is also available in Boulder City on Channel 4 and in Moapa Valley on Digital Channel 50.3. One may watch CCTV on streaming devices such as Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV via the YouTube app.
The car show will display varied makes and models and attendees will be able to vote on the best muscle, classic and lowrider car. A vehicle will also be named “Best in Show” and a “Best Club Participation Award” will be presented. Trophies and $100 gift cards will be awarded and there will be a hydraulic car demonstration at noon. Car owners are asked to display their cars patriotically if possible.
Free hotdogs and hamburgers will be served while supplies last and a live disc jockey, DJ Jimbroski, will perform. The car show is supported by the Las Vegas Cruisin’ Association and Avenue Motorsports. Attendees will be able to help paint a 9/11 mural. First responder-support organizations will be in attendance accepting donations.
“A new generation did not experience the horror of 9/11 21 years ago,” said Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, whose office organized the event. “We must ensure that this nation never forgets what transpired, for it was an inhumane attack by a terrorist organization that resulted in a significant number of deaths and injuries, prompted our entry into a new war, transformed our national air network and government defense structure, and deeply affected all Americans. Our Las Vegas economy was also profoundly affected.”
Commission Chairman Gibson agreed. “The 9/11 attack dealt a horrible blow, directly affecting the lives of thousands of Americans in profound ways and transforming the nation. 9/11 remains part of the national consciousness and we should strive to ensure that future generations never forget what happened that day 21 years ago.”
On 9/11, 2,977 people were killed (more than who died in the attack at Pearl Harbor) and more than 6,000 others were injured.