Patriot Day Community Remembrance Event in Simi Valley
[Source: Freq Of Nature]




UPDATE Photos from the Simi Valley Patriot Day Community Remembrance event have been posted to the web site.

This event actually started at the Mount Sinai Memorial Park with a small group of emergency services personnel. At about 5:30 pm the group attending the service at Mount Sinai Memorial Park were escorted by police to City Hall. Since the public event at City Hall didn’t start until 7 pm, this gave folks some time to emotionally decompress. Counseling was available to all at a small gazebo between City Hall and the Police Station.

The citizens of Simi Valley showed their support by attending this event in mass numbers. If I have to guess I’d say there were about 4,000 soles in attendance. That’s a lot of people considering this wasn’t the only Patriot Day event in the area. It was a sea of red white and blue seated on all types of blankets and portable chairs.

Ventura County Fire Truck 41 used their ladder to position a large American flag over the stage and later lowered it to make it a backdrop for displaying a plaque that was dedicated.

The event started with the Simi Valley Police and Fire Department Honor Guard followed by the Pacific Coast Highlanders Pipe Band. Once the colors were displayed the Simi Valley Youth Council Members lead the pledge of allegiance after giving a detailed explanation of the pledge of allegiance.

Introductions and many short speeches by elected officials preceded the guest speakers.

The first guest speaker was Richard R. Rush, President, California State University Channel Islands.

The second guest speaker was Dan White, a survivor who was on the 82nd floor of the World Trade Center and a Simi Valley resident. Dan White, after receiving a standing ovation, shared his experiences of that tragic day. Dan, along with a small group of other fellow employees, disregarded the instructions over the public address system telling them to stay put because of falling debris and instead fled the building. The company Dan works for lost 60 people that day, four of which were close friends. Dan also gave his sincere condolence to Rosanne Costanza, a Simi Valley residence who lost her son, Daniel Lee, on flight 11. Dan White ended his speech with another standing ovation.

Candles that were given out to attendees before the start of the event were lit and held high as the Santa Susana Jazz Choir sang. The sea of waving candlelight moving in motion with the music was quite a sight to see. Extinguishing of the candles followed a moment of reflective silence.

The event ended with the Color Guard and Pipe Band playing Amazing Grace.

An impromptu song of God Bless America broke out along with several chants of “U.S.A. U.S.A.”. The crowd dispersed quite quickly given the number in attendance.

The drive home was accompanied by the sight of street corners crowed with candles and folks waving American flags along with the sounds of horns honking at each of these corners.


posted by Tracy Justus at 9/12/2002  

Patriot Day Community Remembrance Event in Simi Valley
[Source: City of Simi Valley]

A Community Event to remember those who lost their lives on September 11th 2001, as well as a show of solidarity for those who continue to fight for the freedoms we enjoy in our great nation.

Wednesday, September 11, 2002
7:00 p.m. to approcimately 8:00 p.m.
Simi Valley Civic Center
(Tapo Canyon and Alamo)

Featuring:
Richard Rush, President, California State University Channel Islands
Dan White, September 11 Survivor
Sparky Anderson, Former Manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers
Santa Susana Jazz Choir
Pacific Coast Highlanders Band Bagpopers
Simi Valley Police Department/Fire Department Honor Guard
Candle Lighting Ceremoney
Unveiling of Commemorative Plaque

Bring Blankers and Folding Chairs to sit on.

For further information call (805) 583-6335 or visit the City of Simi Valley web site at http://www.ci.simi-valley.ca.us/index.html

posted by Tracy Justus at 9/10/2002  

Simi Valley Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course
[Source: Simi Valley Police Department]

CONTACT: Bruce Wilson, Simi Valley Emergency Services - (805) 583-6238

The Simi Valley Police Department is now accepting applications for the next Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course. The course consists of six 3-hour classes, on consecutive Wednesday evenings in September and October, 2002, at the Police Department, followed by an all-day session at the Ventura County Regional Fire Training Center in Camarillo on Saturday, October 26, 2002. Adults 18 or over who live or work in Simi Valley, and who are willing to assist the community following major disasters, are encouraged to apply. There are a limited number of spaces available in the upcoming class. Applications will be accepted through September 13, 2002.

The CERT program was started following the Northridge Earthquake and provides Simi Valley residents and businesses with skills to become self-reliant in the wake of disasters. The course includes training in disaster awareness and preparedness, team leadership, disaster psychology, fire suppression, disaster medical operations and light search and rescue. All of the training is provided by Ventura County Fire Protection District firefighters. Upon completion of the program participants will be registered as disaster service workers and will join over 400 residents who have already completed the training.

Recent demand for admission to CERT training has been high. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Community Services Specialist Bruce Wilson, at (805) 583-6238, for application instructions.

posted by Tracy Justus at 9/9/2002