FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           September 8, 2006

Release No. M-94-06

CITY HOLDS REMEMBRANCE WALK

FOR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS

             Hundreds of people are expected to turn out for Sunday’s (September 10, 2006) Walk of Remembrance around the Civic Center and part of Kakaako to mark the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann will lead the walk, which begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes ceremonies at the Honolulu Police Department and Honolulu Fire Department headquarters, the Prince Kuhio Federal Building and Honolulu Hale.

“This walk will honor those people whose lives were lost or shattered in the 9/11 attacks and the police, firefighters and emergency medical  and civil defense personnel, who are the first to respond in times of trouble, as well as the armed forces,” said Mayor Hannemann. “We’re calling this walk ‘Honolulu Remembers . . .  Never Forget,’ and we hope to make it an annual observance.”

The public is invited to participate in the walk. Marchers are asked to gather at the entrance of the Honolulu Police Department’s Alapai headquarters on 801 South Beretania Street by 6:30 p.m. The walk will be led by a procession of Celtic pipe and drum players. Ceremonies  and wreath presentations will be held at each of the four stops:

·   Honolulu Police Department Alapai headquarters. Deputy Chief Glen Kajiyama will lead a brief ceremony and will receive a wreath from the mayor.

·   Honolulu Fire Department headquarters at South and Queen streets.  Fire Chief Kenneth Silva will lead a brief ceremony and receive a wreath from the mayor.

·   Prince Kuhio Federal Building, Halekauwila Street steps. Congressmen Neil Abercrombie and Ed Case and representatives of Senators Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye will receive a wreath from the mayor.

·   Honolulu Hale. A formal service will take place at the eternal flame on the corner of South King and Punchbowl streets. The service will include a wreath-laying and recognition of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, headed by Dr. Libby Char, and the Oahu Civil Defense Agency, headed by Bill Balfour. The Royal Hawaiian Band will provide live music. Fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles from the Police, Fire and Emergency Services departments will be on display.

            KSSK Radio personality Michael W. Perry will conduct the welcome and opening for each ceremony.

            Walkers are encouraged to bring flashlights. Free parking will be available at the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center parking structure (enter from Alapai or Beretania streets.)

             “We plan this walk to be a solemn, nonpartisan, nonpolitical observance of the day that changed America, September 11, 2001,” said Mayor Hannemann. “No matter what people might feel about events that transpired since then, the walk is meant to remember the losses we suffered and the heroism we summoned up that day.”

            “Honolulu Remembers. . . Never Forget,” grew out of a new movement encouraging “freedom walks” nationwide to observe the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

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Contact:

            Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts, 523-4674

            Bill Brennan, 527-6928

            Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767