Cecily Zimmerman captured this photo of the tribute lights at the lodge.
A test is performed on the skylights at the lodge in preparation of Friday’s 9/11 tribute. Photo provided by Art Femister.Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco will be among the dignitaries who will be attending Canyon Lake’s 9/11 Tribute in Light on Friday, September 11.
Bianco will be joined by Labor Department Western Regional Director and former Senator Jeff Stone, Senator Melissa Melendez (by video), New York Yankee legend Jim Leyritz, 9/11 hero and survivor Dennis Frederick (by phone), representatives of the Canyon Lake Fire Department, Canyon Lake Mayor Jordan Ehrenkranz and Mayor Pro Tem Kasey Castillo, Canyon Lake POA President Chris Poland, and retired Battalion Chief and Murrieta Councilmember Kelly Seyarto.
Tribute in Light is a community-wide event honoring those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. The event will start at 8 p.m. with a procession of golf carts escorting the dignitaries from the fire station to the lodge where there will be a tribute and guest speakers.
Staff installs blue lights in the city’s administrative offices. Photo courtesy of City Hall.The tribute will stream live on the Canyon Lake Insider Facebook page for those who wish to attend the event virtually. Organizers ask residents who attend in person to practice social distancing and wear a mask out of respect for others.
Canyon Lake’s 9/11 Tribute in Light was conceived in mid-August by resident Brian Bock, a native New Yorker who sprang into action after hearing that New York City was going to cancel its annual Tribute in Light on September 11.
Bock created a Canyon Lake 9/11 Tribute in Light Facebook page and was immediately joined by hundreds of other residents. A 9/11 Committee was formed.
The Sacks home on Pecos Place. Photo provided By Gigi Sacks.The committee held Zoom meetings and came up with a plan for the Canyon Lake community to pay tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Their simple idea of having a skylight at the lodge pointing two blue beams of light in the sky on September 11 has grown into much more over the past few weeks.
“This event has taken on a life of its own,” said Bock. “The community, city, POA, and local dignitaries have all come together to help make this special tribute possible.”
The POA is supporting the efforts of this event by installing more than 100 donated blue lights around the community. The City of Canyon Lake on September 2 officially proclaimed September 11 a “Day of Service and a Day of Remembrance” in the City of Canyon Lake, and called upon residents to honor the lives of those lost.
Residents are ask to participate in this community event by lighting up their porches and yards with blue lights on September 11.
The Moisio home on Gray Fox Drive. Photo provided by Tony Moisio.
