9/11 Remembered In Marin, Across Bay Area

MARIN COUNTY, CA – Fire stations in Marin County relayed a special message and rang bells Monday morning in recognition of the 16th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001.

"Patriot Day is an opportunity to never forget what happened on 9/11, recapture the spirit of unity and compassion that inspired our nation following these terrible attacks and dedicate ourselves to helping others in our communities," San Rafael fire Chief Christopher Gray said in a statement.

The annual observance in Marin was not the way the Bay Area honored those who died in the in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and in a plane that went down in a Pennsylvania field.

At the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda, 30 to 40 people listened as a bell rang at the time when the South Tower collapsed, when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania, when the North Tower collapsed, and when part of the Pentagon collapsed. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks.

All of the names of the victims were displayed on a screen on a hangar deck and cards were available for people to write to first responders. Many first responders died trying to save people from the collapsing towers in New York.

"It was a very simple but respectful service," USS Hornet spokesman Michael McCarron said.

Elsewhere, other events were scheduled to bring to mind the people who died that day.

In Salinas, police and firefighters were scheduled to gather at 7:30 a.m. in front of City Hall followed by a reception at Police Activities League Youth Center.

Public safety officers in Sunnyvale were scheduled to gather with community members at 7 a.m. at Fire Station 2 to honor their fellow citizens who died.

In Vallejo, city officials were scheduled to hold the city's first 9/11 memorial at 10 a.m. at Station 21.

Later in Danville, the Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley is scheduled to remember the first responders who died in the 9/11 attacks at 5:30 p.m. at the All Wars Memorial at Oak Hill Park at 3005 Stone Valley Road.

Marine Medical Corpsman Derek McGinnis, who was injured in 2004 by a suicide bomber who drove into McGinnis' humvee ambulance, spoke at the event.

Antonio Aversano talked about losing his father in the 9/11 attacks at a peace picnic, prayer service and vigil at 5:30 p.m. in King Plaza at 250 Hamilton Ave. in Palo Alto.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said in a statement today, "On this day 16 years ago, we experienced a national tragedy that will never be forgotten.

"The anniversary of 9/11 is a time to reflect on what we lost, and celebrate the brave people who serve our communities," Lee said.

Bay City News Service and Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this report.

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