9/11 Memorial Ceremony on State Capitol Mall Helping Minnesotans Stand Together

St. Paul, Minn. - We think that we have something to model to the rest of our community, said
Gail Anderson. If the religious community can come together in this way, its possible for all of us to
come together.
Anderson is the Director of Unity and Relationships at the Minnesota Council of Churches, which
is an organization bringing together denominations of mainline-Protestants. The Minnesota Council of
Churches is one of about 19 religious groups organizing Minnesotans Standing Together. The event,
which is taking place on the Mall of the State Capitol, will be commemorating the tenth anniversary of
9/11.
Its a very diverse gathering of people that is presenting this, said Anderson, whose job within
the Minnesota Council of Churches is to further inter-faith understanding. I think its a reflection of
Minnesota and I think its a celebration of what Minnesota can be at its best.
The planning for this event began about five years ago with the Twin Cities Interfaith Network,
which does work with religious leaders to further interfaith understanding. Anderson explained that the
network realized that when the 10
th
anniversary of 9/11 was approaching that it would raise up a lot of
emotions in people, so we thought that we should gather as a religious community.
In times of trauma or loss, many of us turn to religious rituals or services to help us through
those times, Anderson said. That is what we have crafted here.
Though the event is being spearheaded by an organization made up of mainly protestant
denominations, Anderson was adamant about the fact that its intentionally diverse. Some of the 15
religious traditions being represented at this ceremony are Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, four Christian
denominations, and Hinduism.
The event is broken up into three sections; remembrance, honoring, and hope/healing. The first
section will remember all of those that died on 9/11 by having their names read. The second section will
contain a speech delivered by Gov. Mark Dayton, and will honor first responders and members of the
military that have fought in wars post-9/11. The final section, which is focused on healing and hope, will
feature a performance by hip-hop artist Brother Ali, and will be, as Anderson stated, a little bit more
upbeat. My hope is that people will leave inspired. That the burden that they may have come here with
is lifted.
Minnesotans Coming Together will be taking place Sunday September 11
th
on the Mall of the
State Capitol from 2 to 4 p.m., with a pre-ceremony performance by a string orchestra starting at 1 p.m.


Events commemorating Anniversary of 9/11:
Christian/Muslim Blood Drive- Brooklyn United Methodist Church, Brooklyn Center, MN
http://www.brooklynmosaic.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=
55
Minnesota Public Radio Special Programming including stories of lost family and friends, a look
at life in New York immediately after, and a look at 9/11 through the eyes of young people.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/05/sept11-programming

Songs of Hope concert, Basilica of St. Mary (September 10
th
)
http://www.mary.org/index.php?Itemid=82&id=67&option=com_content&task=view

Civic Commemoration of remembrance, including law enforcement and emergency
personnel Cathedral of St. Paul
http://www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/category/keywords/news-and-events

Public Safety Agency Observance- Minneapolis Convention Center
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199666363427799