Thousands gather at Seattle Center 'Flower Vigil' to remember those lost Sept. 11, 2001

More than 75,000 people passed through the Seattle Center International Fountain Sept. 14 through 18, 2001, following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. They left an estimated 900,000 flowers and more than 4,500 personal messages and mementos out of respect for the victims and their families.

Originally the vigil was planned to last three hours on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 15, but people began gathering Friday afternoon and kept coming throughout the weekend. A steady line of individuals and families waited to enter the International Fountain to leave flowers.

The public outpouring was so emotional Seattle Center decided to the keep the vigil going through Tuesday morning when the community was invited to join firefighters, police officers and Seattle Center staff in a community close of the vigil.

During the close, Mayor Paul Schell and volunteers joined firefighters, police and Seattle Center staff in separating flowers and personal cards.

The hundreds of personal letters and pictures will be added to the more than 2,000 notes and drawings collected on Saturday. These letters, photographs and drawings will be professionally bound into memory books and sent to New York City and the District of Columbia.

"The flower vigil was a moving illustration of the true Seattle spirit," Mayor Schell said. "On September 11, 2002, we plan to plant a garden at the new Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center in honor of all the victims. The new pavilion will be located in the heart of Seattle Center, facing the International Fountain. It will be the gathering place where we come together as a varied and rich community."

"I am so proud that Seattle Center has truly served as the gathering place for our community to come together and support each other in this time of sorrow," said Seattle Center Director Virginia Anderson. "How inspiring and uplifting to see people from every corner of our diverse region caring for each other."

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