Photo by Renee C. Byer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Center measures its success by how well it fulfills its mission of engaging a rich and varied community, and even the most casual of visitor crossing the campus understands the accuracy of that statement.
As a visitor onto the campus, you might marvel at the acrobatic moves of a teen skater in the skate park, and minutes later inside the Center House, you’ll witness the equally graceful moves of the weekly senior dances. Elsewhere on campus, you’ll see rollergirls, ballet, laser shows, high school football games, and the ethnic festival series. The array of events is stunning. Each one that dots the calendar allows us to celebrate the diverse fabric of our region, and each one encourages random spectators to watch, to listen, to taste, and most importantly, to participate.
And this is why Seattle Center was our city’s gathering place a decade ago on September 11th, 2011, and the days that followed. The International Fountain became the impromptu heart of our community and served as either a secular place for reflection or simply a refuge for those who needed comfort in the company of others. Thousands of people found a sense of solace and a place to join hands along the edges of the International Fountain.
As we approach the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 on Sunday, Seattle Center once more offers a place for us to assemble, to pay our respects, and to mark the way the world has changed since that fateful Tuesday morning.
Community Invited to Gather for 9/11 Day of Reflection
WHO: 10+Seattle in partnership with Boundless Events, City of Seattle, Compassionate Action Network, and Seattle Center
WHAT: 10+Seattle – A 9/11 Day of Reflection at Seattle Center
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11;
5 a.m. – 8 a.m., quiet reflection
8 a.m. – 10 a.m., open community interaction
WHERE: International Fountain at Seattle Center
WHY: To recognize the ten-year anniversary of 9/11 and provide a place for all who wish to be together to reflect and share moments of remembrance, resilience, empathy, healing, community and compassion.
DETAILS: On Sept. 11, 2001 and the following days, more than 30,000 people gathered around International Fountain for a flower vigil that became one of many such spontaneous gatherings around the world expressing the depth of humanity’s capacity for empathy and compassion when faced with great loss and sorrow.
Ten years later, on Sunday, September 11, 2011, once again the fountain will welcome all who wish to gather and turn their thoughts and hearts once again toward humanity’s greatest strength – compassion. There will be no speeches or presentations. At 5:46 a.m., the Kobe Bell will sound, correlating to the time that the North Tower was struck. The consecutive three events of Sept. 11, 2001 will be marked in the same manner at 6:03 a.m., 6:37 a.m. and concluding with a final ring at 7:03 a.m. All are welcome and asked to stay for at least ten minutes in meditative reflection and remembrance.
MORE INFO: www.seattlecenter.com / www.facebook.com/10plusSeattle