The community-led event will have a positive and uplifting tone, according to Yolanda Risch, a member of the task force that is planning the event. Despite the horrific nature of the attacks, the theme behind the anniversary event will be inspirational and patriotic, Risch said.

"We will honor our public safety officers, who do so much every day for our safety," she said.

Local bands will start playing music at 6:30 p.m., and the event will begin at
7 p.m. Tommy Hoppin from the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety will be the master of ceremonies, and Mayor Fred Fowler will perform the introductions. Grace Witt of Advanced Micro Devices and Bruce Paynter of Applied Materials will speak at the event.

Music will be the focus of the program. The children's choir from The Music School of Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church will sing a few selections. Nicholas Aragon Montalvo, 8, will sing the "Star Spangled Banner." Nicholas is the nephew of Ray Montalvo, the former chairman of the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce. It won't be the first time he's sung the national anthem in front of large audience—he displayed his vocal talents last summer at the San Jose Giants' "Sunnyvale Appreciation Day."

Despite the upbeat aspects of the program, the event will honor and remember those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 attacks.

There will be a tribute to Andrew Garcia, a former resident of Sunnyvale, who perished along with 44 others on United Airlines Flight 93, which went down in rural Pennsylvania. A formal bell ringing will remember all those who died as a result of the attacks, and bagpipes will play "Amazing Grace."

Faith leaders and volunteers will light candles, and the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety will illuminate a tree with 3,000 lights to signify the approximately 3,000 lives lost last Sept. 11. Former New Yorkers will recite the poem "I am a New Yorker."

The program will close with the audience singing "God Bless America."

The city is encouraging community members to attend and participate in the ceremony.