Looking to Inspire, Fairgrounds Hosts 9/11 Anniversary Event

Ten years ago, Sept. 11, 2001, was opening day of the Santa Cruz County Fair.

For the first time in the fair's history, crowds didn't go through the . The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Flight 93 canceled the festivities.

That won't happen this year.

Rather than shut down, the fairgrounds will go all out to mark the somber anniversary with a community celebration spotlighting first responders, those who died and even a local who made it out of the first tower alive. 

"What we want this to be is an uplifting and inspirational event," said Mike Bethke, general manager of the Santa Cruz County Fair. "We want everyone to come together as a community and share their hope, strength and experiences."

Bethke, who is in his first year managing at the fair, talked humbly about the origins of the event. He said he dreamed up the idea months ago while looking at events planned for the fairgrounds this year. The 9/11 anniversary falls just two days before the grand opening of the 2011 Santa Cruz County Fair, and he wanted to mark it with something positive, maybe a fire truck parade.

It's a little bigger than that now. Here's one visual on how large the gathering is expected to be: The San Jose Fire Department loaned Bethke an American flag "the size of a football field" that will be draped from the extended ladders of two fire trucks and serve as a backdrop for the ceremony.

"It's taken on a life of its own," said Kelly Baker, the wife of Santa Cruz police Sgt. Butch "Loran" Baker, who is helping Bethke organize the event.

Really.

back in January caught the eye of the wife of Jon Henninger, a Christian singer/songwriter from Illinois. She emailed in her husband's song, "We Will Stand," and said Bethke could use the song at the anniversary event.

"There won't be a dry eye," Baker said, as the song played in the background while she worked with Bethke at the farigrounds on a recent afternoon.

The 9/11 anniversary event is free and will begin at noon Sept. 11, a Sunday, at Ocean Speedway.

Just about every fire department, police agency and other first responders are on board for the event. A local pastor will give an invocation, and there will be a fly-over and a 21-gun salute. Bethke even uncovered an old flagpole that is being refurbished so a team of firefighters can use it to recreate the iconic photo of a fire crew lowering the flag on a partially toppled flagpole to half-mast at the World Trade Center.

Perhaps the most touching moment will be when the crowd files out of the stands and onto the infield of the speedway, where Boy Scouts will hand them small American flags, each marked with the name of someone who died in the attacks. People will carry their flags forward and plant them at the base of the monument flagpole, creating a memorial that will stand throughout the 2011 county fair.

"And then, after that, the party will start," Bethke said."We don't want this to be something where we're dwelling on the morbid, the negative."

All of those public safety agencies will have fire trucks, mobile command posts, SWAT rigs and more for kids to check out. McGruff the crime-fighting dog will be there, the local chapter of the American Red Cross will share information about emergency preparedness and retired Scotts Valley police officer Donna Lind will talk about the Fallen Officers Foundation, a local nonprofit that supports families Santa Cruz County first responders during their times of need.

There's also a country-western band and a free BBQ.

Like so many Americans, Bethke can recall the exact moment he learned the country had been attacked. He was on the board of the Santa Cruz Boys and Girls Club 10 years ago and, on the morning of Sept. 11, he walked into the club's downtown location to sign some checks. He saw the towers fall on a TV news report.

"I stopped there dead in my tracks and said, 'what the hell is that,'" Bethke recalled. "It took me a second to realize what I was seeing was real."

Bethke was in total shock and, as he talked about it a decade later, said he could still feel the emotion of that experience like it was yesterday. He said he hopes the anniversary event at the fairgrounds can be a positive, healing moment for participants.

"What we need to do as a people, a community, a country—we need to use that experience as a way of showing everybody we have gotten stronger," Bethke said.

Check out ActionAmerica.com if you'd like to tell the country how you're taking positive action in your community.