Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremonies Across Riverside County

TEMECULA, CA — Cities throughout western Riverside County marked the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks Sunday with flag ceremonies, patriotic reflections and other commemorative events.

In Corona, volunteers on Thursday gathered at the Historic Civic Center on Sixth Street, where miniature flags were erected in rows, with each flag representing one of the 2,977 people killed as a result of the acts of terrorism perpetrated by Islamist radicals who hijacked four planes.

Beginning about 5 a.m. Sunday, members of the Circle City Rotary Club and other volunteers read each victim's name while standing among the flags.

"We will pause for 21 seconds at 5:46 a.m. when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the first tower in New York City, again at 6:03 a.m. when United Airlines Flight 175 hit the second tower, 6:37 a.m. when American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon, and 7:03 a.m. when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after the passengers aboard realized their fate and rushed the front of the plane, causing the terrorists to loose control and crash," the rotary said ahead of the event.

All the times represented the three-hour difference between the west and east coasts.

There was a color guard ceremony and brief remarks by city officials during the service.

"We will continue reading (victims') names until we finish announcing each person," the rotary said.

Temecula's anniversary commemorative service began at 4 p.m. at the Duck Pond, near the corner of Rancho California and Ynez roads.

"As we reflect on Sept. 11 and the events that transcended the world 21 years ago, we will never forget the innocent lives lost, including our courageous first responders," Temecula Mayor Matt Rahn said ahead of the event.

Rahn led the remembrance service, during which there was a moment of silence and remarks by other City Council members, as well as public safety officials.

In Murrieta, a 6 p.m. tribute in Town Square Park, near Kalmia Street and Jefferson Avenue took place.

"The city will pay respects to those who perished that day with an observance ceremony," according to a city statement ahead of the event.

Mayor Jonathan Ingram led the service, joined by other city representatives.

In the past, Riverside held a "Day of Service," with neighborhood cleanups, blood drives and other similar activities, to mark the anniversary of 9/11. However, city spokesman Phil Pitchford said nothing was scheduled this year, for reasons unstated.

Last year, for the 20th anniversary commemoration, the city premiered the documentary "9/11: One City Remembers," featuring archival video, photographs shown publicly for the first time and interviews with members of Riverside County Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 6.

The task force firefighters, mostly from Riverside, spent 11 days at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the World Trade Center collapse.

"It's a truly revealing look behind the scenes as the team, faced with stark realities and painful visages, is still buoyed by a grateful people throughout," producer Tim Roche said of the film.