Observing 9/11: Coronado Remembers

Events were scheduled around San Diego today in observance of the 12th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

A traveling exhibit set up at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel includes wreckage from the World Trade Center in New York, a piece of fuselage from United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Shanksville, Pa., when passengers fought back against the hijackers, and other memorabilia.

"It's kind of emotional, to think back 12 years to what these people went through," visitor Cheri Blunt told NBC7/39. "It's time to remember."

Mike Hughes, who was president of the New York City Police Academy at the time, recalled arriving at the World Trade Center just before the second tower collapsed.

"I looked up and said, 'God, take care of my wife and kids and, you know, make it quick,"' Hughes told the station. "I made my peace with God at that time and just got under the truck."

Hughes, now retired, tours with the memorial around the country with other police officers and firefighters.

A closing ceremony for the exhibit is scheduled at 7 p.m., One Park Blvd.

This morning, the Air Force ROTC held a memorial ceremony in front of Hepner Hall at San Diego State University and an interfaith prayer service was held at the University of San Diego. A ceremony was also conducted at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego.

Until 3 p.m., a blood drive is underway at the San Diego Hall of Champions, 2131 Pan American Plaza in Balboa Park, to benefit the San Diego Blood Bank.

At 2:30 p.m., a memorial service is scheduled to take place on the flight deck of the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum at 910 N. Harbor Drive, featuring a helicopter flyover, Harbor Police fireboat display and 21-gun salute.

—City News Service