Governor Tim Pawlenty today invited Minnesotans to come together to remember the heroes and victims of September 11th, 2001 at a memorial event marking the five-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The “Minnesota Remembers” memorial event will be held in the State Capitol Rotunda, at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, September 11. The ceremony will honor the memory of Minnesotans and all of those lost on 9/11. It will feature music, speakers, as well as moments of silence at 7:46 a.m. and 8:02 a.m. CDT, the times when planes struck the World Trade Center towers.

“Five years ago, we were a country reawakened to danger on that September morning,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Since then, we have been proudly defending the freedom that defines this great nation, and it is important to recognize that, while life has returned to normal for many, it will never be the same, especially for the families and friends of the victims who perished in those attacks, or for the brave servicemen and women who have since defended our freedoms by fighting terror overseas.”

Invited guests for the memorial will include Minnesotans touched by the 9/11 tragedy, state constitutional officers, Minnesota’s Congressional delegation, legislators, military members, veterans, firefighters, police officers and EMTs. The public is also encouraged to attend.