Our History

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The Goals of the Minnesota 9-11 Tribute are: 

• To memorialize the victims and their families of  the 9-11 attack by showing that our community and the nation   remembers and will never forget  their tragic loss.                                            

• To pay tribute to the men and women who serve as rescuers in our society, including police, fire, EMS, first responders and other rescue personnel who regularly devote themselves to keeping us safe in the face of danger.

• To express our gratitude and thanks to all serving personnel and veterans of all branches of the armed forces, including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, and to their families for their dedication and service to protect our freedom and our country.                                             

• To use the many styles of American Music as expressed in geographic areas as a way to reach local diverse cultures and expanding age groups, i.e. bluegrass, country, pop, Dixieland jazz --  From New Orleans to Chicago to Atlanta, Texas and California. 

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4:00 PM

Firemen 5K Walk

5:00 PM  

Picnic Music

204th Army Band “All Brass No Ammo”

The Singing Masons - Henthorn & Schwab

7:00 PM

Introduction

Fanfare – Hosting at Dawn

Flag Ceremony - Color Guard Salute - Bagpiper Michael “Mick” McCoy 

National Anthem &... Taps

Welcome - Alix Kendall, FOX 9

Invocation -- Pastor SSG Matthew Pilch

7:15 PM

Concert

Down in the River to Pray…Traditional Hymn, arr. Christine Laberge

Soundings…………..……...….Brian Balmages

Colonel Bogey March….......Kenneth J. Alford

arr:  Serber and Olcott — (Kid’s March)

Shenandoah…….traditional, arr. James Olcott

Always United, Forever Strong.B. Balmages

Go The Distance…….………..Menken/Zippel, arr. James Hosa

Soloist SPC Max Rooney

Armed Forces Medley……………..Veterans, please stand when your service song is played

A Million Dreams…………...…..Pasek/Paul arr. Morrow/Nelson

Soloist SPC Max Rooney

Childhood Remembered….Rossano Gallante

 You’re a Grand Old Flag…George M. Cohan, arr James Olcott

  Bugler’s Holiday….……...…Leroy Anderson, transc. David Hickman

Speaker…..…....……...………..….Alix Kendall

 Beating Heart………….…………...T. Rattigan  Simon Nathan, Vocal Trans.

American Salute…………..…..Morton Gould

  God Bless America.............…...Irving Berlin, arr. Jerry Nowak

America the Beautiful….....…....S. A.Ward, arr. Carmon Dragon

with audience participation (candlelight w/cellphones) and MN 9-11 Chorus

Stars and Stripes Forever..John Phillip Sousa

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Music transcends the ages and unites the hearts. The memorial concert on 9-11 presents a variety of musial styles and medleys to help us remember those whose lives were lost and honor brave military leaders and first responders. The program this year includes short performances by loal artisans and musical groups. The object is to play and sing music and perform acts that strengthen our resolve to protect the freedoms we charish and the peace we love.

 This years concert features the 204th Army Band, the Twin Cities Trumpet Ensemble and the MN 9-11 Tribute Chorus.

204th Army Band

With history spanning over 75
years, the 204th Army Band of Vancouver, Washington, and Fort Snelling, MN, is unique among bands. The unit was con­stituted and activated in August of 1943 as the 104th Infantry Division Band. After several reorganizations and reassignments, the band made its way to Vancouver in January of 1968. 

In October 2008, the band was relieved from assignment to the 104th Division, and merged with the 70th Army Band, of the 70th Regional Readiness Command, Fort Lawton, Washington. At this time, the two bands became the 204th Army Band, 

Some highlights of the 451sts history include performances in 1994 commemorating the 50th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy France, events in 2004 in Rome, observing the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Italy, as well as being the first Reserve Band selected to fill in for the United States Military Academy Band at West Point.

The deeply historic roots of the 204th Army Band make it what it is today: a beacon of hope, made up of citizen Soldiers who instill a profound sense of patriotism in the Soldiers and community members they serve by infusing the Army story into each and every note they play and sing, to educate, entertain and inspire.

Twin Cities Trumpet Ensemble  

The Twin Cities Trumpet Ensemble, founded in 2014 by its current director, James Olcott, is the only group of its size and configuration in the United States, and in its short life has created a reputation for excellence and excitement. 

Besides performing numerous concerts of its own in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, the group has played public service concerts and clinics in schools and churches throughout the area and collaborative concerts with the Medalist Band, the St. Croix Community Concert Band, the Lake Wobegon Brass Band, the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, the linden Hills Symphony and the 204th Army Band.

During the past 15 months of no live performances, the group has remained active with the creation of three online virtual concerts, over 20 online videos, and produced its first CD, Soundings!. The 2021 fall/winter season is very full, with the group appearing no less than seven times in public and private performance.

MN 9-11 Tribute Chorus

The MN 9-11 Tribute Chorus is an all volunteer group of singers from various choirs and singing groups from around the Twin City area and has performed in the concert each year since the first one with the exception of 2019.