City to host several 9/11 commemorations this year

On Saturday at 9:00 a.m., the Long Beach Fire Department and city officials will attend a commemoration at the LBFD Firemen's Memorial on Lafayette and Park Avenue. Also On Saturday, the Spirit Rider Regatta will take place off National Blvd. beach between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. A walk will take place earlier at 9 a.m.

This event is in honor of Firefighter Patrick O'Neill and others who were killed on 9/11. On the beach will be raffles, refreshments and more. For more information log onto www.spiritrider.org or call 516-662-0485.

On Sun, Sept. 12, Freedom Flight 9/11, a kite flying exhibition, will take place on Riverside Blvd. from noon to 4 p.m. Bring your kites and join professional kite flyers on the beach in honor of those who died on 9/11 and for the responders who gave so much. A sand sculpture garden will be built by Matt Long, where children will place American flags, and kites will also be handed out to children to fly on the beach. The event is open to the public.