LIST: Phoenix-metro events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks

Commemorative event held in Scottsdale ahead of 20th anniversary of September 11

The event, which was hosted by Scottsdale Fire, featured a friendly competition to honor firefighters who died on that fateful day in 2001. FOX 10's Stephanie Olmo reports.

PHOENIX - Saturday marks 20 years since the terrorist attacks that killed thousands in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania, and a number of events are set to take place across the Valley to commemorate the occasion.

Chandler

City officials say the Chandler Museum will host a poster exhibition that is curated by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York. The exhibition will run until Oct. 10.

Details: https://www.chandleraz.gov/news-center/chandler-museum-presents-tribute-911-20th-anniversary

Gilbert

City officials say A ceremony commemorating the attacks will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza on 50 E. Civil Center Avenue. Two beams of light, symbolizing the twin towers of the World Trade Center, will also be projected into the sky from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Details: https://www.gilbertaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/4655/17

Mesa

The East Valley city will hold a commemoration ceremony at 10:00 a.m. at the Mesa Amphitheatre, according to city officials.

Details: https://mesanow.org/news/public/article/2790

Phoenix

According to the 911 Tower Challenge Foundation, Gila River Arena will host a 911 Tower Challenge, starting at 8:00 a.m. on Sept. 11. According to the Visit Phoenix website, event participants will climb 2,071 steps to represent the 110 floors of the World Trade Center, and honor those who lost their lives during the attacks.

Details: https://www.911towerchallengefoundation.org/challenge-locations

Scottsdale

A 9/11 memorial tribute has been taking place since Sept. 3 at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, according to Scottsdale City officials.

The tribute will wrap up on Sept. 12, and has a pop-up museum at the center's atrium that features the National Unity Flag, an artwork that was created following the attacks.

On the night of Sept. 10, the city's fire department held a pipe band competition in Old Town, with around 35 to 40 pipers and drummers from all over the state competing for prizes.

"We wanted to memorialize those lost, but most certainly, the 343 firefighters that were lost. Pipes and drums are the way we merry and bury the fire service," said Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon.

Scottsdale Fire normally hosts events every year around September 11, but they wanted to have a friendly competition for 2021.

Among the crowd was Steve Rochford, a K-9 handler for the Phoenix Fire Department FEMA team at the time. He responded immediately after the attacks, and he says the event gives a time for people to come together and reflect.

"I think it's important for people to remember and to reflect on what happened 20 years ago and the people who sacrificed their lives, so it's a pretty special moment," said Rochford.

Another person at the event was former New York firefighter Michael Virgadamo.

"I had about 15 close friends that I had worked with and gone to the fire academy with that we lost that day as well," said Virgadamo. "I feel guilty that we left New York, and that all my brothers from the fire department there are mourning right now and I'm not out there to mourn, so coming here and seeing my brothers here in Scottsdale still cherish their memories, it means a lot to me."

Details: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/news/scottsdale-remembers-week-long-9_11-tribute-honors-those-lost

Tempe

At Tempe Beach Park, the annual Healing Fields event will take place from Sept. 10 to Sept. 12.

At 5:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, there will be a reading of the names of those who perished in the attack. That corresponds to the time the first plane hit on September 11, 2001. A candlelight vigil is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. the same day.