Community Corner

9/11 Memorial Tribute Planned In South Bay Wednesday Evening

Twelfth anniversary of terror attacks observed at Oak Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park Sept. 11 Memorial plaza.

Written by Sheila Sanchez

Oak Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park will hold a Sept. 11 memorial tribute at 6 p.m. Wednesday at 300 Curtner Ave. in San Jose.

The special observance to remember and honor those lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001 will take place at the cemetery's 9/11 Memorial located inside the facility.

According to organizer Karen Carter, the event has been held every year since the tragic terror attacks that killed thousands of people in New York City, the Pentagon and Shanksville, PA.

A huge observance was held at the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, Carter said. Wednesday's event will be much smaller with the program lasting about an hour.

Robert Wallinger, manager of Oak Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park, will be the master of ceremonies and the main speaker will be celebrant Marie Beth Allen.

The public will gather around the Sept. 11 Memorial at the cemetery, built a year after the tragic events. 

"The goal is to lift up our spirits and say, 'We will never forget,' " Carter said. "We also want to honor everyone who lost their lives."

Wreaths will be placed at each of the Sept. 11 Memorial's smaller monuments for the first responders, the U.S. Armed Forces, the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Flight 93.

Chaplain John Berger, a retired serviceman, will be singing the National Anthem and God Bless America and the Oak Grove High School Junior ROTC will be the Color Guard for the event, Carter said.

The cemetery's Sept. 11 Memorial contains a granite wall that bears the names of the almost 3,000 people who died in the attacks, Carter added.

"I pray for all the families that lost their loved ones and I pray for America to never forget and to know that this country is a wonderful place and that we need to continue to support the American way," Carter said.

Carter is in charge of community relations for the Dignity Providers of the Bay Area, which include 10 funeral homes and cemeteries located as far as Fremont.


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