TEMPE, Ariz. — 5:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, was when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. Wednesday at 5:46 a.m., a ceremony to honor those who lost their lives was held at Tempe Beach Park.
"You see tears on that stage and just powerful emotion and that’s how we never forget," Healing Field chairman, Nick Bastian said.
2,977 American flags were planted earlier in the week at the Healing Field. With them are the names of everyone who lost their life in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Starting at 5:46 a.m., Tempe city officials, first responders and others paid tribute by saying the victims' names one by one.
“It really personalizes what happened," Bastian added. "You start to think about that specific person and their family and how that affected millions of people throughout our country. I really do get chills every year we do that."
Terry Locke is one of the visitors to the field.
“I come out to look at this every year," Locke said. "It’s so impactful. It’s been 23 years since 9/11 and it never loses its appeal to me.”
Along the perimeter of the nearly 3,000 American flags, you’ll see yellow ribbons symbolizing the first responders who gave their lives while trying to save others.
“The significance there is it’s like them still protecting the people that were in the buildings," Bastian said. "There’s a lot of really cool symbolism out here.”
Taking in all the names, Locke said it’s important that we pay our respects and show our sense of country.
“Just seeing all the folks that sacrificed their lives that day it just strikes my heart every time I come out and see it.”
There will be a second tribute, a candlelight vigil at 7:00 p.m. at the Healing Field Wednesday night.
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