Standing Together On 9/11

Religious leaders and state lawmakers announce a memorial event, called Minnesotans Standing Together, to be held at the State Capitol Sunday, September 11th, the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Speaking at the press conference is Gail Anderson, Committee Chair of Minnesotans Standing Together, Bishop Peter Rogness, President, Minnesota Council of Churches, Rep. Michael Beard, R-Shakopee, and Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Mpls. Press release: The Minnesota Council of Churches released event details today for a state-wide community observance of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The public ceremony will take place from 2-4pm on the mall of the State Capitol Sunday, September 11, 2011, and will feature remarks from Bishop Peter Rogness of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA); faith leaders from diverse congregations across the state; Governor Mark Dayton, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Republican state legislative leaders. The Minnesotans Standing Together ceremony will feature music, dance and poetry from a variety of artists and artistic styles. From gigantic puppets to powerful poetry and gospel, folk and classical music, the program offers a diversity of artistic expressions dealing with Remembrance, Honoring and Healing. In addition, members of the military, first responders, and families who lost loved ones on 9/11 will be featured prominently in the ceremony. ?This event is an opportunity for faith leaders from many traditions to literally stand together with civic and political leaders and share common desires with the people of Minnesota for healing and hope for our community,? said Peg Chemberlin, Executive Director of the Minnesota Council of Churches. The Council is the lead organizer of the event and has brought together at least 15 diverse groups to support the event. PRE-CEREMONY MUSIC BEGINS AT 1PM A string orchestra made up of players from well-known ensembles in town will provide Pre-Ceremony music beginning at 1:00PM. Come early, bring a blanket or lawn chair, find a good patch of grass and enjoy reflective music chosen to help set the mood. RECORDING ARTISTS TO PERFORM The program will include live performances by three well-known recording artists: Brother Ali, (Hip-hop artist) Sheila Raye Charles (gospel, daughter of soul legend Ray Charles), and Larry Long (folk). The voices of Partner in Praise Girls Choir will lead the audience in singing Amazing Grace and America the Beautiful. PUPPETRY, POETRY AND DANCE Larger-than-life puppets operated by In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater and spoken poetry read by Minnesotan poet Louis Alemayehu will add a powerful dimension to the ceremony. Holly?s Center Stage Dance youth dance company from Lakeville will perform. YOUTH INVOLVEMENT Young people from the Interfaith Youth Leadership Coalition will bring messages of hope, and students from the University of Minnesota will be among those who read the names of the victims of 9.11. Paul Ridgeway, who was instrumental in organizing the 2001 9/11 memorial that drew an estimated 35,000 people to the capitol mall and is also working on this event, also emphasized that people may want to bring folding chairs or a blankets , ?as we are expecting that as many as 5,000 to 10,000 people may attend.? Additional information, including tentative program, is available at: www.MinnesotansStandingTogether.com (also attached) Minnesota Council of Churches: www.mnchurches.org Twin Cities Interfaith Youth public service announcements created for the event can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/user/tcinterfaithyouth Live Internet stream of the event will be provided by The Uptake at: www.theuptake.org

Added 17 Jul 2026