September 7, 2007 INSIDE Real Estate . 35 Open Home Guide . 44 Section 2 www.PleasantonWeekly.com PLEASANTON WEEKLY LivingLiving Remembering 9/11 Operation S.A.M. hosts memorial event York were the first responders on people.” versary memorial event, the first just wouldn’t be right this year,” 9/11 and the military came after Walsh said he wanted to thank all happening almost by coincidence Jackson said. that,” Rosenga said. “So we really those who are serving overseas and last year. The organization, which Thoratec, the Pleasanton-based wanted to recognize fire and police the firefighters, police officers and formed in 2004, scheduled an open company where chief operating departments.” nurses working on the “front lines” house to introduce the community officer and passenger of Flight Walsh, who is also a longtime of our country. to its cause and the date happened 93 Tom Burnett worked, will not Pleasanton resident, said he was “We lost 343 firefighters in New to fall on Sept. 11, Rosenga said. be holding a Sept. 11 memorial honored when Operation S.A.M. York alone that day and without Being that it was the fifth anniver- as it has in the past, although it asked him to speak at the event, as their efforts, it would be many sary, the group decided to make does commemorate the day and well as surprised, although his wife more than the 3,000 citizens we the open house a memorial as well, Barbara said she understood why lost that day,” Walsh said. although it was primarily focused the organization would want him to Remembering the work and sac- on introducing the community to by Rebecca Guyon give the address. rifice the people serving in the Operation S.A.M. Rosenga said “I think the reason he was military are making, as well as this year’s event is different in that It goes without saying, Sept. 11, chosen to speak was because he their loved ones back home, is an the main focus is 9/11 remem- 2001 is a day we all remember well. almost died in the line of duty important element of the event, and brance. Next Tuesday marks the sixth anni- and because these people on 9/11 an understanding Walsh hopes the Operation S.A.M. is hosting the versary of that day when terrorists did die in the line of duty,” she community will take away from his only large-scale community event hijacked four commercial planes, said. Last year, Scott Walsh fell 23 speech. commemorating the sixth anniver- crashing them into the World Trade feet into an empty recycling pit at He also plans to recount how sary in the Tri-Valley this year. Center Towers and the Pentagon. the Pleasanton Garbage Company the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire The city of San Ramon will host Passengers aboard the fourth plane, while fighting a fire. He spent four Department handled the events of a remembrance called United We Flight 93, diverted the plane into a months in the hospital and has Sept. 11. The fire department was Stand in Memorial Park from 5 to field in Pennsylvania. More than been in physical therapy for the already busy that day fighting a 6 p.m. Sept. 11 which will feature 3,000 people died in the attacks. last year. This year, he retired from four-alarm fire in Livermore when speakers, patriotic music and an To honor the anniversary and the department, ending a 30-year news came that two planes had hit interactive public art project. Retired Fire Capt. Scott Walsh will the men and women who lost their career. the towers. VFW Post 6298 of Pleasanton, speak at the Operation S.A.M. 9/11 lives that day, Operation S.A.M., “When I went to see him after “Then I knew we had problems,” which has held anniversary memo- memorial. a Livermore nonprofit that sends he woke up, he said that when he Walsh said. “As a result, I didn’t get rial events for the past five years, care packages to troops deployed was falling he had time to think home for three days. I was assigned will not host an event this year due to Iraq and Afghanistan, is hosting and he wondered if that was the to work, and many of us stayed on to logistical and time constraints, a Sept. 11 memorial event titled, Burnett’s heroism throughout the “Tribute to America’s Heroes” year with a permanent memorial, next Tuesday. said company spokesperson Susan “Our basic goal is to keep the Benton. military who are still serving in Chris Miller, head of the Military everyone’s minds, whether or not Family Support Group and Yellow you feel it is right or wrong to be Ribbons on Main Street organiza- in war, and to remember the peo- tion, said that although his orga- ple who lost their lives on 9/11,” nizations are not hosting formal said Laura Rosenga, vice president Sept. 11 memorials, the support of Operation S.A.M. “We hope to group is holding a potluck barbe- keep those people alive in others’ cue for all members that night. The memories and in their prayers.” group honors 9/11 and the people The tribute will begin at 7 who lost their lives through its p.m. at the Livermore Veterans every day work, he said. of Foreign Wars Hall, located at “Our role is mostly functional; 522 South L St. in Livermore. The every day, every way, we are help- event starts with the presentation ing each other out,” Miller said. ■ of the colors by the Livermore- Pleasanton Fire Department, Livermore Police Department, Operation S.A.M. VFW and military honor guards. “Tribute to America’s Then, recently retired Capt. Scott Heroes” Walsh of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department and Capt. Steve When: 7 p.m. Sept. 11 Sweeny of the Livermore Police Department will speak about Members of Operation S.A.M. put together care packages for those serving overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. Where: Veterans of how 9/11 affected them and their Foreign Wars Hall, 522 work. South L St., Livermore Rosenga said Operation S.A.M. asked both men to speak in an way those people who fell and lost because the (Lawrence Livermore said VFW spokesperson Larry Cost: Free effort to give a greater emphasis their lives on 9/11, if that was how National Laboratory) was of con- Jackson. on the important work police and they were feeling at the time, too,” cern. There was a lot of planning “We’ve always done something, Contact: Visit www.oper- firefighters did during 9/11. Barbara Walsh said. “I thought, and discussion going on by my but with the re-dedication of the ationsam.org or email “When we planned this event this wow, only my husband would think superior officers of what to do.” (Veterans) Building and the renova- Operationsam@com- year, we said we need to remember that; that’s the kind of guy he is. This is the second year Operation tion this year, there’s so many other cast.net that the fire and police in New He feels a connection with those S.A.M. has held a Sept. 11 anni- things in the fire that we thought it Pleasanton Weekly • September 7, 2007 • Page 25 Individualized Living programs in Now Showing Reading, Writing, The 11th Hour melting and sea levels are rising; forests are thin- Math and Study ning while deserts are expanding; and the average ++++ temperature of the earth is at a historical peak and Skills to improve Rating: PG for some mild disturbing images and the- steadily climbing every year. matic elements The points presented by scientific experts in your child’s 1 hour, 30 minutes every field from oceanography to air pollution are eye-opening. The diverse speakers present their It would be unfair to label this sobering docu- thoughts and findings with passion—these are the SA skills this fall. mentary as one simply TPrep Available men and women in about “global warm- the trenches of this ing.” The riveting film— crisis and their com- produced and narrated mitment is obvious Enroll and Save by three-time Oscar and admirable. They $50 Off nominee Leonardo emphasize an urgen- 260 Main St. DiCaprio—breaks apart cy to act, although Tutor Aid Testing. that often politicized Downtown Pleasanton Expires 9/30/2007 there is a sense of (925) 484-2757 term and presents the desperation behind worldwide problem in the eyes of some of a context that can be the speakers. The easily understood. best-case scenario But with that under- is immediate change standing comes sor- and a sustainable row, regret, fear and, future, but the worst …a sweet lil’ clothing boutique ultimately, hope. case means a deso- Eye-opening inter- late earth that can no longer sustain human life. views with some of the world’s greatest minds The problem with films like “The 11th Hour” (such as Stephen Hawking and David Suzuki); and last year’s Oscar-winning “An Inconvenient gut-wrenching footage of ecological devasta- Truth” is that those who most need to learn the tion; disconcerting scientific facts; and DiCaprio’s lesson will likely turn a deaf ear: The oil tycoons, sincere commentary converge for a powerful cin- the absurdly wealthy, war-frenzied politicians, ematic experience. fast-food aficionados. Solving a problem of this “The 11th Hour” presents its argument clear- magnitude will take at least an understanding by ly: Disregarding the planetary repercussions of everyone—Democrat, Republican and everyone human behavior, or rather misbehavior, holds in between.