Community to remember 9/11

There are bumper stickers, posters, songs, window clings for cars and more signifying "Remember 9/11" and "Never Forget."

Capital Baptist Church is offering the community a chance to remember the significance of Sept. 11, 2001, at 7 p.m. Tuesday - the sixth anniversary of the attacks.

The evening will include guest speakers Sheriff Kenny Furlong, Carson City Assistant Fire Chief Tom Parulli, Nevada Highway Patrol Lt. Chuck Allen and Chorus of the Comstock barbershop quartet for entertainment, as well as Rick James on the bagpipes and the Capital Baptist Choir.

Rev. Lary Rothchild will offer a message, in addition to a DVD presentation.

Musical director Lee Elliott is helping organize the event. Elliott is passionate about the importance of Sept. 11, because he has three sons in the military.

"All three sons are in the Army," Elliott said. "Gary, 37, is a nurse in Fresno on active reserve; Jason, 27, is at Fort Sill, Okla., and Crist, 44, who lives in Modesto commuting to Oakland, Calif., is on the downswing of his military career.

"Even the pastor's son, Ryan, is in the military. He completed language school in Monterey, Calif., and did a tour in Iraq.

"We can't forget 9/11. Once we forget things like 9/11, we become vulnerable again."

Elliott said Tuesday's event is not a full-blown religious event.

"We want to make that clear," he said. "Yes, there will be some prayers and a song. I will be singing Aaron Tippin's 'Where Eagles Fly,' and the choir will sing the "Star Spangled Banner," "In God We Trust" and "God Bless America."

"But we need to understand, 3,000 people from all countries in those two towers died. Regardless of the country, the enemy will strike at any time. If the enemy doesn't like what we have to say, they will say so."

The DVD to be shown was filmed in Bakersfield, Calif., by Bill Elliott, who was principal of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, and his daughter Jacki, who was a junior, in the days after Sept. 11.

Michael Manfredo, co-owner of Rocy's Choppers in Carson City, will have on display his 1973 Harley-Davidson FLHP, originally a police motorcycle in San Francisco.

The motorcycle was refurbished in 2002 in memory of Manfredo's father in-law, who was a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department for 36 years.

"After he retired, he remained active in the community," Manfredo said. "He was on a trip on Catalina Island with Boy Scouts when he fell off a cliff and was killed."

The bike has been meticulously painted and crafted and shows on the dash the names of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11.

Elliott said he has not heard of any other local events scheduled to remember Sept. 11.

"The further we get from it the more people want to forget," he said. "I feel I need to say something and be involved. I'm too old to serve.

"I refuse to let our country go through this again."

In closing, James will perform "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes.

Remembering 9/11

WHEN: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: Capital Baptist Church, 4555 S. Edmonds Drive

COST: Free; live entertainment, DVD presentation; guest speakers

CALL: 885-0880

Other events:

• Flag donation at J.L Harvey Field, Western Nevada College - 11 a.m. Tuesday by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Battle Born chapter for Flags Across America Day

• Moment of silence: The Carson High School Student Council is buying every student a red, white and blue bracelet to show that we will "never forget." A moment of silence will be observed Tuesday morning.

• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.