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Experience an Unforgettable Evening of Tribute and Inspiration

2nd Annual 9/11 Remembrance Event: MONUMENTAL TALKS 2025

Theme: “Freedom and Family”

September 11, 2025 | 7:00–8:30 PM | Everett Civic Auditorium

Following last year’s debut, MONUMENTAL TALKS returns with an even more powerful program honoring the spirit of freedom, family, and unity. Hosted by Joe Marine, Mayor of Mukilteo, and joined by Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, this extraordinary evening blends moving performances, heartfelt stories, and reflections to ensure we never forget the events of 9/11 or the values that bind us as a nation.

Highlights of the 2025 Program:

• “Reflections of 9/11” Essay Winner: Hear the winning words from a high school student who will claim the $1,500 top prize among 42 participating schools. 
• Award Presentation: Honoring Edward Hartley Anderson and the Hartley family for their historic contributions and the inspiration behind MONUMENTAL TALKS.
• Veterans’ Experiences – Explore the strategies behind the 9/11 terrorists’ plans, hear a remarkable account of survival from a death march, and gain insight into the immediate and long-term emotional and healthcare challenges faced by military service members.
• Key Storytelling: Lia Tetrault, Korean-American business owner, shares her powerful journey from South Korea to the U.S., introduced by Sam Sim of the Greater Seattle Korean Association.
• Captivating Performances:
  • National Anthem and live music from renowned artists Monet Pelluer, Darrelle Holden, Karina Choe, and Carl Kelley, led by musical director Jack Klitzman.
  • Dehner Franks will perform his original 9/11 theme song, “What is the Cost of Freedom,” with Monet Pelluer.
  • Dynamic dance performances by the Dorothy Jayne Studio dancers, featuring the uplifting “Lights of Freedom” moment.
  • A moving finale with Lee Mathews conducting the entire audience in “God Bless America.”

Why Attend?

MONUMENTAL TALKS isn’t just a remembrance event; it’s a shared experience of hope, reflection, and gratitude. Through music, storytelling, and community dialogue, we will explore the questions:

“You have been given the gift of freedom. How did you get it? How do you keep it?”

Reserve Your Seat Now!

Tickets are available via the QR code on event posters and flyers or through this link: Eventbrite Tickets.

Free Admission is extended to active duty military, veterans, fire services, law enforcement, and high school students. Must provide a valid ID.

Read Here for Details of the 2025 Program:

Last year, our 9/11 Remembrance Event, MONUMENTAL TALKS, was presented for the first time. At the conclusion of the Event, Joe Marine, Mayor of Mukilteo, our Master of Ceremonies, asked the audience if this Event should be “Annual”. The audience applause was an immediate “Yes” Vote.

For that reason, the 2nd Annual 9/11 Remembrance Event; MONUMENTAL TALKS; will be presented this September 11, 2025 at 7-8:30pm.

The “Origin and Mission” of Monumental Talks is explained in the 2024 Website. It is important to recall that the “Message” for “MONUMENTAL  TALKS” arose from the “Hartley Photographic Collection” that was gifted to the Hartley Mansion about 40 years ago.

For almost 40 years, there certainly has been Photographic “awareness” of Roland Hartley, his wife and daughter, along with his two sons standing up behind them   However, this photograph only inspired the “Message” of MONUMENTAL TALKS beginning 2 years ago.

If it were not for this Gift provided by Edward Hartley Anderson, no one would have been in the Everett Civic Auditorium on 9-11-24 – nor would there even be a 9/11 Remembrance Event this year, 2025. 

This is why Edward Hartley Anderson, joined by other family members, will be presented an Award by our Master of Ceremonies, Joe Marine,

“FREEDOM and FAMILY”

The subtitle for this year’s 9/11 Remembrance Event; MONUMENTAL TALKS, “Family and Freedom” arose from the contributions of Lia Tetrault, owner of the Sound View Deli & Grocery on the Mukilteo Blvd. Lia was born in South Korea and later immigrated to the USA at age 20. Her story will be presented with the help of Sam Sim, among other things, the Vice President of the Greater Seattle Area Korean Association.

“REFLECTIONS of 9/11”: The High School Essay Competition

The “Reflections of 9/11” High School Essay Competition arose from the incredible creativity of Dan Matthews, Decorated Lt. Col Ret. of the US Airforce. Dan served in the Viet Nam and the Gulf wars. After this, he was a commercial airlines pilot and instructor for 30 years. About 2 weeks before the end of this school year, Dan conceived the idea of a “Student Essay Competition”. He engaged the interest and participation of 42 public and private high schools in Snohomish County. The Winning student will receive the $1,500 top prize and the opportunity to present the student Essay at our 9/11 Remembrance Event.

RETURN of the 2024 9/11 REMEMBRANCE CAST.

As with last year, the Event will open with the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag led by Capt. Stacy Wuthier, Commander of Naval Station Everett Color Guard. This will be followed by the National Anthem sung by our singers from last Year that include Monet Pelluer, Darrelle Holden, Karina Choe and Carl Kelley. Again, the Band Leader will be Jack Klitzman, the Musical Director of the Seattle Theater Group.

Seated at the grand piano will be Dehner Franks, who composed our 9/11 Theme Song, “What is the Cost of Freedom”, for the Christmas Spectacular in 2008. This  year Dehner and Monet will sing the song as a Duet. Monet, the “Spirit of Freedom” in our Event, is a well known student at Newport High School in Renton.

And we must not forget to mention Karina Choe, a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music in Opera. She will again reprise the role of the “Queen of Celebration”. And in this role, she will help Monet, the “Spirit of Freedom”, along with the Dorothy Jayne Studio dancers led by Danylo Yanchyshyn and Dascha Wright, energize our audience through the song “Vengan Con Migo” – or Come With Me”.  During this performance, the Dorothy Jayne Studio Dancers will distribute the battery powered“Lights of Freedom” amongst all present in the Civic Auditorium.

We are, of course, honored to be joined by Darrell Holden, a wonderful singer and also “regular” member of “Nearly Dan”, a band led by Jack Klitzman that often plays Jazz Alley and other venues in the Greater Seattle area. And then there is Carl Kelley, a long time Cast Member of the “Christmas Spectacular” for almost 20 years. He will present, as well as lead, the  presentation of the Song “What A Wonderful World” created and composed by Louis Armstrong during the Viet Nam War.

And, as in the Christmas Spectacular 2001-2020, the 9/11 Remembrance Event will wrap up with Lee Mathews, former Director of the Everett Chorale for 25 years. He will tell a couple of favorite stories before Conducting the “Freedom Choir” in “God Bless America”. The “Freedom Choir”, that is all members of the Civic Auditorium audience, will join with all Cast members on Stage in singing our closing song.

The final words of our Master of Ceremonies, Joe Marine, will remind us of the words spoken by the Master of Ceremonies of the Christmas Spectacular, who, for 20 years repeated this message: “Without Freedom, We could not lead our lives the way we choose”

WEBSITE TOPICS 2024

PROGRAM

Generally, the PROGRAM will be very similar to that of Last Year, 2024. In addition to the musical and dance cast members mentioned above, there will be Joe Marine, Master of  Ceremonies; Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett; Charles Avelange, LA Film Composer;  Steve McLaughlin and Jeff Swan / Ray Lockman, Veteran Speakers. We will again feature Ricardo and Marci Velasco, Mazatlan Restaurant, plus he new Speakers that include Lt. Col. Dan Matthews USAF Ret, and Lia Tetrault.

PRODUCTION STAFF and SUPPORTERS

 We always draw attention to the Civic Auditorium staff led by Ketih Corning. And we need to point out the CREATIVE INSPIRATION and CONNECTIONS that helped evolve the 9/11 Remembrance Event.

POST-EVENT REVIEWS

Those two dozen Reviews have been read and re-read many times. As already explained, it was from Lia Tetrault’s Review (the last one with 2 photos), from which arose the Theme of this year’s 9/11 Event, “Freedom and Family”. We will look forward to this year’s Reviews.

FLYERS and POSTERS

Last year’s FLYER and POSTER were updated with our new Theme – ‘Freedom and Family”. Please note the 1st three lines of the FLYER that Captures the “Message” of MOUMENTAL TALKS:

MONUMENTAL TALKS

Let us ALL remember that – Monumental Talks, inspired by Roland Hartley And his Family in August of 1917, are essential dialogues that we must share with our Families and Communities in order to constantly confirm the priceless value of our American Dreams and American Freedom for which we are willing to Pay the Cost of Freedom.

By this time you have probably noted the QR CODE on the FLYERS and the POSTERS allow you to purchase a Ticket for our Event!

PLEASE JOIN US for the 2nd Annual  9/11 Remembrance Event 2025 !!!