Articles

The Movement

The Alliance and the Town of Gilbert are participating in a national movement to memorialize September 11th by encouraging people to honour those that lost their lives that day and beyond. This is being done by discouraging making 9/11 just another holiday where people get together to BBQ and instead find time to appreciate and rededicate ourselves to the values that we cherish as a Nation and as free people. More specifically we are asking people to do a good deed, help a neighbour, donate to a cause you are passionate about, attend a 9/11 ceremony, teach your children about the events of that tragic day, or say thank you to our service men and women. We will be coordinating with the rest of the country to put on different community opportunities through September 3rd and the 11th. Here is the website to learn more: http://www.mygooddeed.org/.

Gilbert launches 9/11 Memorial Blog

Community effort underway to build regional 9/11 memorial with WTC Steel

Gilbert, Ariz. - Sept. 11, 2001 was a date in history that has impacted us all. As Gibert moves forward with a community effort to construct a regional 9/11 Memorial using a real 8-foot beam from the World Trade Center, we want to hear from you. A new Gilbert 9/11 Memorial blog has been launched providing an opportunity to share our feelings, stories, memories or pay tribute to those who lost their lives and those who demonstrated true heroism. The memorial is an effort to pay respect and remember those lost as well as the togetherness that resulted from those acts, and we have all been impacted in different but powerful ways.

Submit your stories about 9/11, and what that date and this memorial means to you, either on the blog at www.gilbertaz.gov/911MemorialBlog or through 911Memorial@gilbertaz.gov. Photos are also welcome. All ages are encouraged to submit.

There is still time to purchase a brick and become a permanent part of this tribute. Bricks purchased by July 25 will be on the memorial when it is unveiled on September 11th. Brick will remain available after July 25, and will still become a part of the memorial.

The steel beam will be on display at a variety of upcoming events, and residents are encouraged to see it, feel it and become a part of the effort. Learn how Gilbert became among the honored few to receive a piece of the World Trade Center, and where you can see it touch it, and support the fundraising effort, at www.gilbertaz.gov/911Memorial.

Let us know if you are interested in becoming more involved in any of these days! info@gilbertsba.com

Events

Please keep checking back for the list of activities and events on these days:

Memorial

This beam is a dynamic, spiritual, inanimate artifact of a past horror that will move all who see and touch it. It represents the fragile nature of our freedom that was taken from some of us temporarily and permanently from almost 3000 innocent victims on September 11, 2001. It has a connection to all of us as witnesses, friends, relatives and those who reacted by rendering military service and sacrificing family, life and limb. It must not be lost to the coming generations. Though it resembles a rusted and twisted piece of steel, it will be forever a monument to those who passed and those who continue to protect our lives and freedom and we will be better for having it. - Town Manager Collin DeWitt This memorial will serve as a permanent reminder for Gilbert citizens of the sacrifices made by public safety workers and the tragic loss of life during the terrorist attacks on our country on September 11, 2001. We must never forget the events of that fateful day. Please help us to honor those lost and our public safety workers and members of the military who put themselves into harm’s way each day to protect this great nation and our way of life. - Police Chief Tim Dorn Gilbert's 9/11 memorial will forever be a place for remembrance, contemplation mand education. It will pay tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and symbolize our nation's determination to recover from the tragic events of that day. For future generations, the memorial will provide historical context and perpetuate the vow to never forget. - Fire Chief Jim Jobusc

Volunteer Reading Group

The Alliance is helping the Town of Gilbert plan a couple of days of tribute the week leading up to 9/11. These days are:

Saturday, September 10th: Preserving Family. Join us from 8:00am - 10:00am at the Riparian Preserve for fun and educational activites for the whole family! Activity Stations include: "Money Tree" for children to choose good deeds they can pay forward. Arts and crafts including coloring and drawing a family tree and coat of arms. PHotography station where children can dress up in heroic costumes and have their pictures taken by a professional. A reading station for children to learn about some of the amazing stories of heroism on 9/11. 9/11 station for older children and adults to learn about the Memorial being built in New York City. Wonderful raffle prizes to be won for the whole family! The "Dino Dig" at the Riparian will also be open for children to play in.

Tuesday, September 6th: Heroic Adventures. This will be a day aimed at teaching children about the events of that day.

Curriculum is available here for download for any school or teacher that would like lesson plans approved by Scholastic for any and all grade levels. We are also soliciting local volunteers to read to the 4th grade classes in Gilbert Public and Charter Schools. The book is "Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of John J. Harvey".

Curriculum Download:

• Grades 2-5
• Grades 3-5
• Grades 6+
• Grades 9-12

IF YOU ARE A TEACHER OF A 4TH GRADE CLASS AND WOULD LIKE A VOLUNTEER READER ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, CONTACT INFO@GILBERTSBA.COM. *Include name, School, Classroom number, time you would like a reader, and any other pertinent information.*