Arizona is joining the nation in honoring the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with solemn ceremonies, public tributes, and lowered flags across the state.
Governor Katie Hobbs ordered flags on state buildings flown at half-staff Thursday in recognition of Patriot Day, marking 24 years since nearly 3,000 lives were lost in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. “We salute the bravery of the first responders who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. We will never forget,” Hobbs said in a statement encouraging businesses and residents to follow suit.
In the Valley, the largest tribute is once again the Tempe Healing Field, where nearly 3,000 American flags are displayed at Tempe Beach Park. Volunteers placed the flags at dawn on Thursday, timed with the moment the first plane struck the World Trade Center. The memorial will remain through Monday, featuring a candlelight vigil with the reading of victims’ names, a patriotic concert, and a Tunnel to Towers Foundation 5K run.
Other cities are also holding remembrance events. In Gilbert, the town’s 9/11 Memorial Plaza will host a ceremony Thursday evening, followed by twin beams of light projected into the night sky to symbolize the fallen towers. The plaza permanently features a steel beam recovered from Ground Zero.
Firefighters and community members will gather in Scottsdale on Saturday for the Salt River Firefighters 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, an annual event where participants scale stadium stairs at Salt River Fields to replicate the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.
Later this month, the Travis Manion Foundation’s 9/11 Heroes Run will bring together veterans, families, and community supporters at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, continuing the legacy of honoring service members and first responders.
Through these events, Valley residents will pay tribute not only to the lives lost but also to the resilience and unity that emerged in the wake of tragedy.
