2011 Dia de Los Muertos Altar Honored 9/11 Dead

Last year's 9/11 altar was of great significance because it was built by a group of youth volunteers from El Centro Del Pueblo and under the direction of Mr. Fernando Chacon, the Director of Youth and Family Services, to honor the memory of the many lives lost in the 9/11 attacks and in observation of their tenth anniversary.

Some of the youth in this group were too young to remember it, and others were not even born then; therefore, a workshop was previously held with them for an opportunity to learn about the meaning of 9/11 and in preparation to build the altar.

As a source of knowledge about this tragic event and inspiration to build the altar, during the workshop as well as for adorning the altar, a group of images was used from the 9/11 photo collections of L.A. photographers Madeleine Chean (who was in New York City that day and was able to document it) and Dianne Stratton Corzo; both photographers couldn't think of a better use for their work than to educate youth and honor the 9/11 fallen, especially at a time when the nation was observing the tenth anniversary of the attacks.

The 2011 Dia de los Muertos Festival at El Centro, which was widely attended, was co-sponsored by Assembly Member Gil Cedillo, State Senator Kevin de Leon, Council President Eric Garcetti, and the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council.

With this year's Dia de los Muertos event at El Centro Del Pueblo just days away (October 20), there is great anticipation from the Echo Park-Silver Lake Community, to enjoy all the fun that this annual festival has to offer. 

Writeup and Photos by Pablo Corzo