September 11th Healing and Remembrance Ceremony

Ceremony begins at 8:30am and continues throughout the Day

Town Point Park, Downtown Norfolk Waterfront

 To mark the 10^th anniversary and offer residents a time for reflection, the City of Norfolk is hosting an all-day Healing and Remembrance Ceremony.  Join us as we honor those who died, the heroes who responded and the military who continues the fight to this day.

Beginning at 8:30am in Town Point Park, watch as a flag-filled procession of honor including law enforcement, veterans, community and military honor guards move towards the waterfront, lined with the U.S. military, first responder and maritime vessels and vehicles.    

Four moments of silence will be interlaced with the names of the nearly three thousand people who died that day.  Norfolk residents affected by the tragedy have volunteered their voices for the readings which will also include the names of the sailors who perished on the USS Cole.

Local choirs and the Tidewater Pipes and Drums will fill the park with music throughout the ceremony and members of the public will receive a flower to place at the circle of flags following the ceremony.

The City of Norfolk will provide free parking at the Waterside, Main Street and Town Point parking garages from 6:00am-10:30am Sunday, September 11, 2011.  The public is encouraged to bring blankets and chairs as no seating at the ceremony will be provided.  

USS Cole (DDG 67) will participate in the 10^th Anniversary Healing and Remembrance Ceremony. General public tours of the Cole will be offered Saturday, September 10 from 10:00am-4:00pm and Sunday, September 11 from 1:00pm-4:00pm.  Visitors should plan on wearing comfortable clothing including flat, rubber-soled shoes.  If you bring a handbag or camera case it will be searched prior to entering.  Prohibited items include glass containers, firearms, mace and signs of any type. 

Following the formal ceremony, the public is invited to visit the Norfolk Police and Fire Museum located at 401 East Freemason Street.  The museum will be open from Noon-4pm for the public to view and touch artifacts featured in the 9-11 Commemorative Exhibit. The museum exhibit will also feature Norfolk Police and Fire-Rescue personnel with first hand accounts of their work experiences at the site of the World Trade Center in the aftermath of 9-11.

The public is invited throughout the day until sunset for personal reflection and enjoy the free Virginia Symphony Sunset Concert "America the Beautiful" at 7pm.

The public is invited to stay at Town Point Park throughout the day for personal reflection and enjoy the free Virginia Symphony "America the Beautiful" sunset concert at 7:00pm.

The event is free and open to the public; blankets and lawn chairs are permitted as no seating will be provided.  Join area residents and honor the moment that changed America and one the City of Norfolk will never forget.