Requiem

It is still difficult to fathom the surreal horror of the events of one year ago Wednesday. We were glued to the TV all day, hardly believing what we saw was actually happening and not a scene from some unscrupulously conceived action movie. On the first anniversary of the attacks, St. Louisans have created a variety of ways to mark the occasion.

The most prominent gathering in the region is Freedom: An Interfaith Gathering, featuring the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Friendly Temple Mass Choir, prayers and talks by Governor Holden, Mayor Francis Slay, police and fire chiefs and clergypeople at Forest Park's World's Fair Pavilion, starting at 7:30 a.m. Bring chairs or blankets to sit on. The event will be also be broadcast on KMOX-AM (for information, call 314-444-3212). The Missouri History Museum, Lindell Boulevard and DeBaliviere Avenue, hosts a September 11 Day of Remembrance, featuring the national moment of silence (7:46 a.m.), large-screen TVs, a live radio broadcast with Charles Brennan conducting interviews (3-6 p.m.), a photo exhibit by Michael Eastman and William Gass, artifacts from Ground Zero, a "story circles" activity and a concert (7-9 p.m.) with a candlelight vigil and speeches (314-746-4599).

Over at Christ Church Cathedral, near the intersection of Thirteenth and Locust streets, Remembrance & Hope features a roll call of victims during prayer (9 a.m.) and an interfaith service (12:10 p.m.; 314-231-3454). At Washington University, speakers Kenneth Cooper of the Boston Globe and Ground Zero volunteer Sarah Kaufman share their views (11 a.m., Graham Chapel), and there's a blood drive (5-10 p.m., Friedman Lounge, Wohl Center) and a choral/dance performance with candlelight walk and remarks (7 p.m., Brookings Quadrangle, 314-935-4620).

Webster University hosts a sing-along to Mozart's Requiem (8:46 a.m., Community Music School, 560 Trinity Avenue, 314-968-7174) and a screening of 31 independent short films about the tragedy, Underground Zero I & II (8 p.m., Winifred Moore Auditorium, 470 East Lockwood Avenue, 314-968-7487).

Kiener Plaza (Seventh and Market) is the gathering place for a citywide candlelight vigil starting at 7:15 p.m. (314-613-9266).