Events to recognize 9/11 anniversary coming in Kitsap County

Kitsap County's annual events to pay tribute to the individuals lost and those involved with the response to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 are coming over the next few days as the country approaches the 23rd anniversary of the events in New York City, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.

The 9/11 Sacrifice of Service event begins at 9:11 a.m. Sunday at the Kitsap 9/11 Memorial , located at Evergreen Rotary Park in Bremerton. The memorial was created from steel beams transported across the country from the World Trade Center and installed at the waterfront park near downtown Bremerton.

Speakers are scheduled to include state Sen. Emily Randall, Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler and Kitsap County Commissioners Christine Rolfes, Charlotte Garrido and Katie Walters, and Officer Luis Deffit from the Bremerton Police Department will be presented with the Brian Moss Award to recognize the community impact of a first responder. There will be information booths from several organizations, including the Kitsap Department of Emergency Management, Kitsap Public Health District, Bremerton Police Department, Bremerton School District, Kitsap Resiliency Project, Kitsap Showing up for Racial Justice, Kitsap Black Student Union, Kitsap ERACE and more.

The organizers, a community coalition including several organizations, said one goal of the annual event is to encourage awareness locally to be prepared for emergencies and natural disasters.

A second event will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 11, also at the memorial in Bremerton. A sunset flag ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m., with a short program that will include presentation of the colors and remarks from Capt. Daryle Cardone from the USS Ronald Reagan. Community members are encouraged to bring their own seating for a place on the grassy hillside.

The hosts of Wednesday's event, VFW Post 239 in Bremerton, will also be offering community members to opportunity to sponsor a brick at the memorial, which was part of the original construction. The bricks are available for $50 and will be engraved after Sept. 15 and then added to the memorial's plaza. For information find the Kitsap 9/11 Memorial on Facebook or call 360-271-6610.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Events to recognize 9/11 anniversary coming in Kitsap County