Saturday marks the ninth anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. A variety of civic, political, religious and commercial organizations will commemorate that tragic day in events scheduled around metro Atlanta. All events will be held Saturday, except Friday ceremonies in downtown Atlanta and Cumming, and are free unless otherwise indicated.
Cumming
Forsyth County will take a moment to remember and honor those lost in the Sept. 11 attacks during a brief ceremony Friday in the first floor lobby of the Forsyth County Administration Building in Cumming, located at 110 E. Main St., Suite 210. The ceremony will begin at 9:59 a.m., the time at which the first World Trade Center tower began its collapse. Information: 770-886-2802; www.forsythco.com
Downtown Atlanta
Atlantans of all faiths will rally at 4 p.m. Friday in memory of victims of the 9/11 tragedy and to speak out against religious bigotry and intolerance. The rally will take place at First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta at 1328 Peachtree Street and will include a cross section of religious and community leaders including the Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, Atlanta City Councilman Ivory Lee Young Jr., Rev. Dr. Richard Cobble of Concerned Black Clergy and Douglas W. Gatlin, of Faith and the City. Information: 404-803-8683
Peachtree City
The fourth annual Peachtree City Freedom Walk will be held at 9:30 a.m. at Falcon Field, Peachtree City’s regional airport. The walk will be less than a mile and done entirely on the airport grounds. At 10 a.m. there will be a formal remembrance ceremony, which will include the laying of a wreath and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Bob McCubbins, president of the General Raymond Davis chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association, will speak. Information: 770-631-2542; www.peachtree-city.org
Downtown Atlanta, Turner Field
The Atlanta Braves will honor local police and firefighters before a 4:10 p.m. game against St. Louis. A parade of local police officers on motorcycles will circle the field, while 100 local police officers and firefighters will line the bases for the pregame salute. The Retired New York Shields of Georgia, a group of retired police officers from New York, will serve as color guard. At the conclusion of the national anthem, pilots from Moody Air Force Base will perform a fly-over. The Braves will also honor Chief Master Sergeant Major Shawn A. Ashley, currently stationed at Warner Robbins Air Force Base, as the game's Hometown Hero. Ashley is a Gulf War veteran and has been deployed four times to Iraq. Turner Field, 755 Hank Aaron Dr. SE, Atlanta. Tickets: $8-$78. Information: 404-522-7630; atlanta.braves.mlb.com
Downtown Atlanta, Centennial Olympic Park
Volunteers will read the names of those lost on Sept. 11 during a ceremony at the Southern Co. Amphitheater at Centennial Olympic Park, beginning at 10 a.m. The annual reading of the names is sponsored by the Atlanta-based National Museum of Patriotism, which recently closed its physical facilities but maintains a presence on the Web. A 9:45 a.m. procession, led by a bagpiper, will precede the reading of the names. Information: 404-875-0691; www.museumofpatriotism.org
Stone Mountain
The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation will host the fifth annual Memorial Planting in the Peace Garden at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain. The event, which begins at 10 a.m., commemorates the legacy of the late rapper and activist Tupac Shakur and will pay tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and those affected by this year’s earthquake in Haiti. The foundation, located at 5616 Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain, suggests visitors bring such plants as evergreens, purple coneflowers, bath's pink dianthus or Georgia blue veronicas. Information: 404-298-4222; www.tasf.org
Tucker
First Christian Church of Atlanta at 4532 LaVista Road will observe Sept. 11 with a half-day event featuring brief remembrances and commentaries at the beginning of each hour. The Rev. Phil Foster, associate minister for spiritual development at First Christian, will give the opening prayer and poetry reading at 10 a.m. The Rev. Kris Branaman, senior co-pastor, and author Carl McColman will also speak. The closing prayer will be at 1 p.m. All faiths are welcome. Information: 770-939-4358; www.firstchristianatlanta.com
Marietta
American Legion Post 296 will host a prayer breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at the post headquarters at 906 West Atlanta Rd. Information: call commander Jessie Campbell at 619-787-3165.
Duluth
The assisted living facility Plantation South Duluth at 3450 Duluth Park Lane will sponsor a breakfast dedicated to local police, fire and emergency medical personnel and other emergency responders. Information: 770-623-0617; www.plantationsouth-duluth.com
Duluth
The City of Duluth will mark the 9/11 anniversary at 6 p.m. in front of Old City Hall at the top of the Town Green. The 1st Battalion 15th Infantry will assist Mayor Pro Tem Marsha Anderson Bomar in placing a memorial wreath. Following this ceremony the Duluth Fall Festival will present a concert featuring Kosmic Mama, Betty Seni and the Rupert’s Orchestra. Information: 678-475-3506; www.duluthga.net
Roswell
The second annual 9/11 Memorial Ride to benefit injured firefighters and police officers will begin at Killer Creek Harley Davidson at 11480 Alpharetta Highway. Registration: 9-10:45 a.m. Cost: $25 per rider and $10 per passenger. The ride leaves at 11 a.m. and ends at Twisted Taco at 1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd., where there will be raffles, prizes and music. Information: 770-777-1000; redknightsga18.com
Canton
The fifth annual American Heroes Air Show will take place from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Heritage Park located at 230 Riverstone Parkway. Visitors can view advanced military and civilian helicopters and meet the crews who fly them. There will be helicopter rides for a fee, local live music and displays, a public safety career fair and food. Organizers have chosen September 11 as the program date to remember and honor the heroes and victims of the Trade Towers attacks. Information: 404-451-2212; www.heroes-airshow.com
Dallas
The Paulding County Sheriff’s Department and Fire Department will hold a ceremony at 9 a.m. in Mt. Tabor Park at 1550 E. Paulding Drive in honor of the 9/11 victims. The fire and police honor guards and the Retired New York Shields of Georgia will officiate. Capt. Dennis Tate of United Airlines will be the featured speaker and will present a wreath on behalf of the airline passengers and crew that were lost that day. Information: 770-443-3010; www.paulding.gov