September 8, 2011

8:22 PM

Portland Fire & Rescue invites the public to join us in remembering the lives of those lost, paying tribute to those who rose in service, and honoring those who serve our country today by engaging in the following service and remembrance activities on September 11, 2011:

**9/11 Remembrance Ceremony**

At 9:30 am, Portland Fire & Rescue will host a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony with Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Portland Mayor Sam Adams, and members of Portland City Council, Portland Police Bureau, and Portland Fire & Rescue. The ceremony will take place at Portland Fire Station 21, located at 05 SE Madison.

Events will include speakers, singers, a moment of silence at 10:00 am, a firefighter testimonial about helping in New York after 9/11, a bell ceremony, the reading of 343 firefighter and 72 police names, and a water display by the Fireboat David Campbell.

**Reflection at all 30 Portland Fire Stations and the Historic Belmont Firehouse**

The public is invited to visit any Portland Fire station (a complete list of stations is available at: http://www.portlandonline.com/fire/stations) including the Historic Belmont Firehouse, located at 900 SE 35th Avenue (at Belmont), on September 11th, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Participants will have the opportunity to write messages, thoughts, and reflections at the stations on single pages that will become part of a large memory book. There will be no ceremonies or speakers. This is an opportunity for guests to reflect on this event with firefighters in whatever way they choose.

**Visible Address Portland Service Project**

In the spirit of service, Portland Fire and AmeriCorps are partnering to sponsor a community service project - Visible Address Portland - that will benefit emergency responders and Portland citizens. Those interested in serving on September 11th are invited to stop by any Portland Fire station between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm and pick up a "Visible Address Portland Kit". Kits will contain door hangers for canvassers to hang on front doors of homes where there is no visible address, encouraging homeowners to take action and make their address visible.

The Visible Address Portland Project aligns with the 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which designated September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance and established the service day as a way to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11.

15 AmeriCorps volunteers will gather at Portland Fire Station 31, located at 1927 SE 174th, where they will canvass neighborhoods with visible address flyers from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. A team of AmeriCorps members have been supporting the community school programs offered by Metropolitan Family Service in local public schools. The Building Engagement in Schools Together (BEST) AmeriCorps project incorporates full time AmeriCorps members serving as Community Involvement Specialists to recruit and coordinate volunteers, support family involvement, build community partnerships, and facilitate youth development opportunities within the community school programs. As AmeriCorps members, they've chosen national service as a way to give back to the community.

**Portland District Garden Clubs to Dedicate Blue Star Memorial Marker at Portland Fire's Training Facility**

On Sunday, September 11, 2011, Portland Fire & Rescue will receive the distinguished Blue Star Memorial Marker, a memorial plaque honoring the men and women who are and have served in the Armed Forces. The marker will be presented to PF&R at a dedication ceremony hosted by the Portland District Garden Clubs.

The ceremony will begin at 2:00 pm at the Blue Star Memorial Reflection Garden at PF&R's Training & Safety Facility, located at 4800 NE 122nd. Portland District Director Jennifer Nash and PF&R's Training Staff Captain Kyle Wochnick will conduct the ceremony with PF&R's Honor Guard to post the colors, the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. President, Garnet Ascher, dedicating the marker, Past Portland District Director, Nancy Ebsen, accepting the marker on behalf of Portland District and Pastor Peter Warner to lead an invocation.

**Portland Firefighters to Honor Victims of 9/11 & Service Men and Women at "Field of Flags" Display and Ceremony**

In honor of victims of 9/11 and servicemen and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the Afghanistan and Iraqi conflicts, the Exchange Clubs of Salem and local community partners have joined together to present the 2011 Patriot Day Memorial Field of Flags.

From September 8th through the 11th, over 5,000 American flags and banners will be posted in Salem's Riverfront Park located at 116 Marion Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301. The Field of Flags will consist of thousands of American flags that will serve as a tribute to the lives that were lost on 9/11. The public are encouraged to walk among the flags and pay their respect to the fallen.

As a way to honor those who served and remember those who were lost, all firefighters at Portland Fire & Rescue had the opportunity to sign their names to a "Flag of Honor." All flags signed by PF&R firefighters will be flown in the "Heroes Field" beginning September 8th for four days. On September 11th, a ceremony, military flyover, cannon salute, and candle lighting will be held beginning at 10:00 am. All are welcome.

"At Portland Fire, we believe that engaging in service and remembrance with the Portland community on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 is a productive and respectful way to honor those who died and those who continue to serve," remarked Fire Chief John Klum. "We invite the Portland community to join us on this historic day in service and remembrance activities."

Portland Fire & Rescue

 We Respond: Always Ready, Always There

September 8, 2011

Follow Portland Fire & Rescue on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube