Activities planned in Las Vegas Valley to commemorate 9/11

A variety of activities are planned in the Las Vegas Valley to commemorate 9/11.

THURSDAY

■ An outdoor display of 120 U.S. flags and 13 international flags will be on display all day at the north end of the academic mall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Each U.S. flag will represent 25 people who died in the attacks, and the international flags will represent countries where many of the victims were from.

■ A wreath laying ceremony will honor the lives lost during 9/11 and recognize veterans and men and women in military service at 9 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial near the Flashlight at Artemus Ham Hall at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway.

■ "9/11, 10 Years and Counting," featuring a discussion panel on how 9/11 affected the nation, world and the war against global terrorism, will be presented at 4 p.m. at the UNLV Foundations Building, off Cottage Grove Avenue and Maryland Parkway.

FRIDAY

■ A 9/11 sculpture dedication at Lied Library at UNLV will be presented at 4 p.m. The sculpture "Common Thread" by local artist Troy Gillett honors the victims of 9/11. It features T-shirts with messages of support and grief offered by thousands of people who brought the T-shirts to New York-New York on the Las Vegas Strip on the days after the attacks. The sculpture and memorial exhibit will be on display at the library off Harmon Avenue and Swenson Street through February 2012.

SATURDAY

■ "God Lives In Glass: Reflections of God As Seen Through the Eyes of Children," a musical concert featuring performers from shows on the Strip as well as the UNLV music and theater departments, will be presented at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sept. 11 in UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets are $20-$25, to benefit Family Promise (895-2787).

■ "Brahms Requiem -- 9.11.01 Commemoration" will be presented by the Peoples Valley Chorus and Green Valley Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the church, 1798 Wigwam Parkway, Henderson. The event is free, but a freewill offering will be accepted (454-8484).

SUNDAY, SEPT. 11

■ The 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb will feature 343 firefighters and emergency personnel climbing the stairs of the Stratosphere tower to honor the firefighters and paramedics killed in the terrorist attacks. The climb, which begins about 9 a.m., will benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

■ The Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church of Las Vegas and the Desert Chorale will present Gabriel Faure's "Requiem" at 3 p.m. at the church, 1515 W. Charleston Blvd. A freewill offering will be accepted.

■ A Mount Charleston Peak hike will be offered by Body Fit Las Vegas to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11. Participants will meet at 5:30 a.m. at Body Fit Las Vegas, 6415 S. Tenaya Way. Participation is free, and further details are available at 530-1022.

■ An Interfaith Remembrance of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 will be presented by the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada at 6:30 p.m. in the student union ballroom at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. The event will feature keynote speaker Maureen Peckman, a member of the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security, reflective readings and songs. The free event will feature participation from various faiths from throughout the community (895-9303).

■ A 9/11 Remembrance Service will be conducted at 5:15 p.m. by the Islamic Society of Nevada, 4730 E. Desert Inn Road. The service will feature a candlelighting ceremony, and guest speakers will include the Rev. Gard Jameson, Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada; Daniel Bogden, U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada; and Aslam Abdullah, the Islamic Society of Nevada director. The service is open to the public.

■ The Gateway Arts Foundation will present "A Tribute To Our Country," a concert featuring the Kid Fiddlers, Vic Moea, Alex Christopher and others, at 3 p.m. at Grace in the Desert Episcopal Church, 2004 Spring Gate Lane. Tickets are $15. For reservations, call 255-0695.

9/11 Remembrance Las Vegas Committee events

Here is a list of events planned by the 9/11 Remembrance Las Vegas Committee. Further details are available at 911Unity.org or by calling 702-476-2432.

■ Opening ceremonies will be at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Fremont Street Experience with the lighting of two light towers to simulate the World Trade Center. Bagpipers and honor guards will participate, and the ceremony will be broadcast on the Fremont Street Experience screens. Live entertainment will follow the ceremony.

■ A car show will be presented noon-6 p.m. Friday at Fremont Street Experience. Onsite registration will begin at 8 a.m., and registration is $40. Live entertainment will run 2-5:30 p.m. during the car show. An awards ceremony will be at 6 p.m. To register, visit 911Unity.org.

■ A 9.11K race and 1-mile walk will begin at 6 a.m. Saturday at the Fremont Street Experience and East Fremont Entertainment District. The entry fee is $25. To register, visit 911Unity.org.

■ A 91.1K bicycle ride will start at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Fremont Street Experience and go out to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area before returning via Southern Highlands. The entry fee is $25. To register, visit 911Unity.org.

■ A motorcycle memorial run featuring five rides throughout Southern Nevada and Northern Arizona will depart from Red Rock Harley Davidson, Las Vegas Harley Davidson and Henderson Harley Davidson, depending on the route. Rides will begin at 8 and 9 a.m. Saturday. The entry fee is $20 per rider, and passengers are $15 in advance; or $30 per rider and $20 per passenger for last-minute registration. The final run will travel Las Vegas Boulevard. Vendors and entertainment will be offered at the Plaza, 1 Main St., noon-5 p.m. Saturday. To register, visit 911Unity.org.

■ Family equestrian day will take place Saturday at Horseman's Park, 5800 E. Flamingo Road. Festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with opening ceremonies followed by a "Salute to Our Heroes" grand entry, equestrian showcase and performances in the main arena at the park. Family activities will include pony rides, a petting zoo, demonstrations and a rock wall in the park's main arena event lawn 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

■ West Coast Heroes Parade and Ceremony will begin at 5:46 a.m. Sept. 11 in unity with ceremonies at ground zero in New York City. The parade and ceremony will begin at Charleston Boulevard and Fourth Street, with the parade proceeding north on Fourth Street to Ogden Avenue at 6 a.m. The parade will feature entries from first responders, military and veterans agencies, bagpipers and special performances. Closing ceremonies will begin at 8:30 a.m. led by Las Vegas, Clark County and other regional fire departments, collaborating agencies and organizations. A memorial ceremony will take place at 11:11 a.m. at Police Memorial Park (Cheyenne Avenue and Metro Academy Way) led by Sheriff Doug Gillespie of the Metropolitan Police Department.

■ A gala honoring the work and dedication of first responders and military members will feature cocktails, dinner and entertainment Sept. 11 at the Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Road. The VIP pre-party begins at 5 p.m. with cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person or $1,000 per table (911Unity.org).