9/11 commemoration ceremonies take place at IVC and Saddleback
(Kaylee Johnston)
For the 12th anniversary of one of the most tragic catastrophes to hit the United States, both Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College will be holding commemoration ceremonies on their campuses in honor of Sept. 11, 2001.
Saddleback’s Campus Police will be organizing the event for Saddleback. Some of the guest speakers for the day include Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Terry Scort and Military Vet Dustin Ardolf. There will also be a musical performance by Senior Administrative Assistance for Student Development Erin Long. Jim Amormino will be presenting a wreath at the Veteran’s Memorial and then will be concluding the ceremony with a speech of his own.
Saddleback’s ceremony will be held at the Saddleback College Veteran’s Memorial at noon.
IVC will be holding a similar ceremony. Guest speakers Orange County Assistant Sheriff Mark Billings, Orange County Fire Authority Chief Keith Richter and Irvine Police Chief David Maggard Jr. will be speaking at the event. The First Responder Ambulances will be there and the Irvine Police Honor Guard will perform for the crowd.
When asked what kind of things he’d be addressing in his speech, Assistant Sheriff Billings said it would be about vigilance. “Being vigilant is really everyone’s responsibility. We don’t have to be zealots and we don’t have to have it take over your day, but everyone has to be alert and aware that everyone is part of the solution to public safety. It isn’t just with terrorism, it’s with all elements of public safety…My message is that we all work together,” he said.
Billings goes on to say, “There really isn’t any way for law enforcement to do these kind of things on their own…there aren’t enough of us. But if people see something unusual, or recognize things that might be of concern to public safety, bring it to our attention…Talk to someone about it. It might be more important than you think. And recognize that you’re a big part of the solution.”
IVC’s ceremony will be held at the Performing Arts Center at noon. Parking will be free from 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Lot 5.