Pelco News Release - August 21, 2002

For Immediate Release

California Memorial Events Planned for September 11, 2002

Clovis, CA (August 21, 2002) - On September 11, 2002, there will be two commemorative events at the California Memorial in Clovis. Guests of honor will include small contingents of New York City Police Officers, New York City Firefighters, Port Authority Police Officers, as well as the New York City Police Department Bagpipe Band. At 5:30 A.M. there will be a brief ceremony coinciding with the time of the first attack (5:46 A.M.) against the World Trade Center in New York. This event will include the playing of taps as the Memorial Flag is lowered to half staff by the U.S. Marine Corp., Amazing Grace performed by the NYPD Bagpipe Band, and a twenty-one gun salute.

At 12:00 Noon there will be an approximately one-hour long program of music and remembrances including performances by several artists from the December 8th Dedication Ceremony; including the NYPD Bagpipe Band. Fresno Mayor Alan Autry will act as Master of Ceremonies. Speakers will include California Secretary of State Bill Jones and Chief Anthony Whitaker of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department. Chief Whitaker was one of the World Trade Center Commanding Officers at the time of the initial attack and during rescue and recovery operations. The ceremony will also include a fly-over and release of white doves.

The public is invited to attend both events and show their respect for the 403 fallen heroes from September 11, 2001; as well as for the thousands of surviving heroes who participated in rescue and recovery operations. A special reserved section will be provided for area law enforcement and firefighting personnel. The California Memorial is located on Pelco’s corporate campus near Dakota and Peach Avenues. Traffic management and parking plans are being finalized by the cities of Clovis and Fresno and will be announced prior to the event. Live television coverage is not planned. The California Memorial Museum will be open to the public all day; as it is every day except Sunday.

The California Memorial was built following the September 11th, 2001 attacks to honor our fallen heroes and dedicated on December 8th, 2001. The dedication ceremony included 1,150 New York City Police Officers, New York Firefighters, and Port Authority Police Officers. Subsequently, these New York guests of honor presented Pelco with hundreds of historic memorabilia items relating to the disaster, which are on display in the California Memorial Museum located near the Monument.

For more information, reporters may contact:
Denise S. Dieser
Marketing Communications Department
559/292-1981, ext. 4330
559/294-3782 Facsimile
email: ddieser@pelco.com