On the one-year anniversary of September 11, many shopping centers will commemorate the day by hosting community events, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) reported.

Malls across the country will mark the anniversary by hosting blood drives to benefit local and national charity organizations, distributing free patriotic label ribbons, pins, and small U.S. flags at mall entrances, and will host special ceremonies honoring local members of their fire and police departments.

Some the events at shopping centers and malls marking Sept. 11 around the country are as follows:

General Growth Properties – will handout red, white, and blue ribbons to consumers at all of their properties and corporate offices. Retailers will also display American flags in their windows at their centers across the country. Each center will also have the opportunity to work with their local police and fire organizations within each of their communities as an extension of General Growth Properties’ “We Remember America” campaign.

L&H Real Estate Group – will be planting an “Enduring Freedom” tree at their malls with a dedication ceremony/candlelight vigil, with a special focus on “Hometown Heroes.”

The Westchester (White Plains, New York) – will unfurl two large 20’ X 30’ outdoor nylon United States flags from the roof of the mall on the evening of September 10 as a 9/11 gesture of a silent memorial. People exiting the highway (I-287) will be welcomed into the City of White Plains by the mall’s silent tribute. Additionally, the mall will be observing a day of silence (no mall music) during the day of 9/11. (Owner: Simon Property Group)

Roosevelt Field (Garden City, New York) – The mall plans to recognize the 1st anniversary of 9/11 with a brief, low-key and tasteful observance. This will include a presentation by local honor guards, the unfurling of an American flag, the playing of the national anthem followed by a moment of silence at 10:46 am (the time when the 2nd tower collapsed). (Owner: Simon Property Group)

Walt Whitman Mall (Huntington Station, New York) – will host a “Back To Business” expo in the mall’s Center Court to give local merchants a helping hand. Part of the proceeds generated from this September 7-13 event will be donated to six charitable organizations to benefit the families of the victims. An additional part of the proceeds will be used to create a permanent memorial in the mall’s Center Court honoring the victims and the heroes. The memorial wording will be etched over a background of American flags that will surround Center Court and be visible to all shoppers from any of the center’s four wings. This memorial will be unveiled during a small ceremony on the morning of September 11. (Owner: Simon Property Group)

The Mall @ The Source (Westbury, New York) – Cub Scout Pack 233 of Westbury, NY is spearheading a memorial quilt project that will consist of 3,200 patches when completed. The scouts have asked Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, quilters and other volunteers nationwide to complete a patch in memory of one of the victims from September 11th. At the end of September, there will a special dedication ceremony at The Mall at The Source and the finished project will be hung in Center Court. (Owner: Simon Property Group)

Menlo Park (Edison, New Jersey) – will be distributing buttons that read “Remember 9/11 – Menlo Park Mall” and will be distributing them free to all merchants and staff to wear on that day and beyond. Customers will also be able to sign a large card that will offer thoughts or prayers for those affected by the tragedy, leading up to 9/11 and a week after. The day of 9/11 a large screen TV will be placed in Center Court to let customers see all the events that are taking place around the world on that day. (Owner: Simon Property Group)

Cape Cod Mall (Hyannis, Mass.) – On September 11th Cape Cod Mall will conduct a ceremony to remember those who lost their lives on that tragic day. Bagpipers will lead a procession of local firefighters and police officers, which will be followed by a minute of silence throughout the mall at the exact time of the World Trade Center catastrophe. Representatives of the local fire and police departments will read the names of the individuals who lost their lives on September 11. (Owner: Simon Property Group)

The Mall at Short Hills (Short Hills, New Jersey) – will have a moment of silence at 10:30 a.m. in Center Court on September 11 in response to the many requests received from employees wishing to come together on that date, due to the family, friends and customers who were lost from that area. (Owner: Taubman Company)

International Plaza (Tampa, Florida) – will feature a traveling exhibit entitled “Here is New York” comprising of 300 photo images taken in the aftermath of September 11 by professional and amateur photographers. (Owner: Taubman Company)

Galleria at Sunset (Henderson, Nevada) – is coordinating an event called “Band Together.” This one-day event will take place on Wednesday, September 11, 2002 during mall hours. The purpose of the program is to unite the community with one voice to reflect and pay tribute to all those affected by this tragic event in our nation’s history. On-going performances will take place during mall hours featuring local schools, community service organizations, performance groups as well as military and local law enforcement. At noon, a military bugler will play Taps. (Owner: Forest City Enterprises)

Eastpoint Mall (Baltimore, Maryland) – will be giving out American flag pins as well as small American flags. Customers will be able to pick these up at the Customer Service Center and throughout various entrances. Eastpoint Mall will also display large American flags in its Center Court, which will remain throughout the month of September. (Owner: Shopco Advisory Corp.)

Riverside Square (Hackensack, New Jersey) – will establish an 88-foot mural of commemorative artwork, poems and essays created by local school children ranging in age from Kindergarten through High School. The project is a joint effort between Riverside Square and The Record, Bergen County, NJ’s leading newspaper. Immediately after the attacks of September 11, Riverside Square established a “Wall of Hope” where the community wrote thousands of messages of remembrance and hope. The commemorative mural will be on display in the former “Wall of Hope” location from September 8-22, 2002. Free patriotic lapel ribbons will also be distributed. (Owner: Shopco Advisory Group)

Eastland Center (Harper Woods, Michigan) – will display three large-sized U.S. flags in Eastland’s 10,000 square foot Grand Court, along with the message of “honor and remembrance.” The flags will be hung beginning Labor Day weekend through September 11, and beyond as appropriate. On September 11, greeters will be stationed at each of Eastland Center’s entrances to distribute U.S. flag pins to shoppers. (Owner: Shopco Advisory Corp.)

Ridgmar Mall (Fort Worth, Texas, Shopco Advisory Corp.) – will have mall greeters stationed at each mall entrance all day on September 11 to offer a ribbon of remembrance to anyone who would like one.

Colonial Mall Gadsden (Gadsden, Alabama) – Colonial Mall Gadsden is partnering with the City of Gadsden and the local Chamber of Commerce for a special community time of remembrance. Music will be provided by local school bands and choirs and the event will honor local police and firefighters. (Owner: Colonial Property Trust)

Colonial Mall Decatur (Decatur, Alabama) – Colonial Mall Decatur is partnering with their local United Way in the Day of Caring event, September 10, with the theme “A Day of Remembrance of our Country … A Day of Renewal for Our Community.” This event will include: a kickoff breakfast featuring patriotic music, fundraising activities throughout the day, a mall-wide blood drive and a New York City Disaster Volunteer to serve as the guest speaker. Finally, a silent auction will feature a grand prize trip to New York City. (Owner: Colonial Property Trust)

Colonial Mall Auburn-Opelika (Auburn, Alabama) and Colonial Brookwood Village (Birmingham, Alabama) – both will be hosting a commemorative blood drive with the American Red Cross. The event will feature a short ceremony to include color guards and local school choirs. A Red Cross representative will share firsthand knowledge of the tragedy of September 11, and will also speak of the events that have occurred since that time and how it has changed the country. (Owner: Colonial Property Trust)

Colonial Mall Macon (Macon, Georgia) – along with local sponsors, Colonial Mall Macon will host a two-week display of photographs taken by the first photographer permitted at Ground Zero following the attacks. They will also invite children to draw pictures of “What it Means to be An American.” The pictures will be laminated and displayed on the floor in the shape of a flag. On the actual anniversary of September 11th, Colonial Mall Macon has invited the Macon Police and Firefighters to a special ceremony at the mall where they will receive a donation and honors. (Owner: Colonial Property Trust)

Orlando Fashion Square (Orlando, Florida) – on September 11, Orlando Fashion Square will partner with the local CBS affiliate to broadcast the largest public “Pledge of Allegiance” in its Center Court area. The broadcast will feature members of the Orlando Police Department and Orlando Fire Department in a special ceremony of honor. The Central Florida Blood Bank will host a blood drive and will share information about the importance of donating blood in times of tragedy and beyond. (Owner: Colonial Property Trust)

Crown American Realty Trust -is planning a program at all 26 of its mall properties called “Faces of Freedom.” The event will recognize the contribution of local fire, police, emergency and military personnel in their mall communities.

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