Speakers Announced For Tri-City 9/11 Ceremony

PLEASANTON, CA — Two East Bay residents are among the speakers just announced for Tri-City's 9/11 ceremony at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.

Pleasanton native Jim McGuirk graduated from Foothill High School in 2001 and was just days into his training when the 9/11 attacks were carried out. He went on to serve in Iraq in 2003, where he conducted combat operations, according to a statement from Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert's office.

McGuirk returned to Pleasanton in 2007, enrolled at Las Positas Community College and built its Veterans First Program.

Also speaking at the ceremony is Deborah Lloyd of Dublin, who will tell the story of sister Amy King, 29, a United Airlines flight attendant.

King "left her home in the early morning hours to start her workweek," Lloyd said in the statement. "Her story, her life, is just one of the thousands creating a ripple effect of impact on family, friends, and the world. Yet, telling her individual story reminds us of how precious life is."

The ceremony will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on the attack's 20th anniversary. Guests will park in the Altamont Corridor Express parking lot and gather in the fairgrounds amphitheater at 4501 Pleasanton Ave.

Nearly 3,000 "people were killed, and thousands more were injured at the World Trade Center in New York City," Haubert's office said in a statement. "We lost family members, loved ones, and first responders. We are asking you to join us to take a pause and remember all those who lost their lives on that tragic day."

Speakers, performers and attendees will include Alameda County Fire Chief William McDonald, the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern, the 395th U.S. Army Band and Parks Reserve Forces Training Area.

RVSP to sayeh.ahmari@acgov.org.