For the past four years, Sedona residents and visitors have gathered at Sedona Fire District’s Station 6 to honor those lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
And while they will still be honored, this year’s event will be quite different as a result of COVID-19.
To ensure the continued safety of the community, the ceremony will be a pre-recorded presentation this year
The link for the presentation will be available prior to Friday, Sept. 11, on the SFD website at sedonafire.org.
“We hope that you will join us in viewing this presentation and participate in remembering this very important event,” SFD Chief Jon Trautwein said in a press release.
It’s been 19 years since terrorists forced four jetliners to crash in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. Though Sedona is thousands of miles away, a small piece of metal from that day helps pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost during one of the country’s darkest days.
Station 6 normally plays host to the annual ceremony because it is home to the 9/11 Memorial, which sits outside the station.
The idea of a memorial in Sedona was the brainchild of Sedona City Councilman Scott Jablow, who at the time was a member of the SFD Governing Board. He’s also a retired officer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and lost colleagues on 9/11.
Six years ago, Jablow contacted a foundation that distributed girders from the former Twin Towers to worthwhile causes. At first he was turned down but the following summer he got word that there was a girder available and he welcomed the opportunity to bring it here. Four years ago — during the 15th anniversary of Sept. 11 — the official unveiling of the memorial plaza was held, featuring the 2,900-pound girder.
“I’m so proud of the generosity of the
people and businesses of Sedona as well
as those from the surrounding areas.”
Scott Jablow
Sedona City Councilman
Nearly $88,000 was raised through the efforts of the 9/11 Memorial Committee, which covered the cost of the plaza as well as the dedication ceremony.
“I’m so proud of the generosity of the people and businesses of Sedona as well as those from the surrounding areas,” Jablow said four years ago after the memorial was complete. “It wouldn’t have happened without them. The fact that we funded this 100% and without any taxpayer dollars says a lot for all of those who helped pay for this.”
Jablow said at the time he knew the project would be funded but he was more concerned about the time frame since they only had a little more than a year to raise the amount needed.
“In the beginning it was tough going,” Jablow said. “But once the word got out and people began talking about it and contacting us, they all wanted to be part of it. What made this even more special was that a lot of people gave $5, $10, $20. It wasn’t like I got one check for $50,000. I was hoping to do that but the fact that this many people came out to help makes it even better.”
The largest donations of $5,000 came from Safeway and the Gary Sinise Foundation, which raises money for military personnel as well as first responders. Jablow said once they came aboard, by using that foundation’s name it helped open the door for other larger donations. Those companies donating $2,500 included Amtrust Bank, OneAZ Credit Union and Suddenlink.
“The Gary Sinise Foundation is proud to support the Sedona 9/11 Memorial,” Executive Director Judith L. Otter wrote in a 2016 email to the Sedona Red Rock News. “We hope this memorial will stand as a constant reminder of the many sacrifices made and the many lives lost on that tragic day. Our hearts go out to their loved ones. Thank you again for allowing us to be a part of such a special occasion.”
Jablow, along with his fellow committee members — David Soto, Kyle Jablow, Wendy Tanzer and Dennis Burke — ended up raising more than they could have anticipated. The bid for the memorial went to Joel DeTar of DeTar Construction for $62,000, which was half of the next closest bid.
