After Gov. John Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock concluded brief introductory remarks, the packed conference hall at the Hyatt Regency downtown last Thursday night went quiet and dark. Four sailors stood stiff-backed on the stage wearing ghost-white uniforms glowing with stage light.

“American Airlines Flight 11. World Trade Center. North Tower. 8:46 a.m. New York, New York,” Hickenlooper said, after calling for a moment of silence to honor the lives lost 14 years ago in the 9/11 attacks, when 19 al-Qaeda terrorists commandeered four commercial jets and succeed in crashing three of them into sites of U.S. economic and political power. Nearly 3,000 victims died directly, including all 246 air passengers and crew members on the hijacked planes.

“United Flight 175. World Trade Center. South Tower. 9:03 a.m. New York, New York.”

“American Flight 77. Pentagon West Facade. Washington, D.C. 9:37 a.m.”

“United Flight 93. Shanksville, Pennsylvania. 10:03 a.m.”

A soldier then played taps from a gallery high above the crowd. You could watch a feed of the trumpeter on large video screens placed at either end of the stage, but all you could see of the real thing from the ground was the glinting end of the trumpet. Members of the crowd stared down at their feet or straight ahead at the screens. It was happening live, but it didn’t seem like that. It seemed close and faraway, real and not real at the same time.

The odd feeling was familiar. Americans have described it during 9/11 commemorations for years. The hours passed like a moment outside the rush of the everyday, brimming with contradictions.

The event, sponsored by the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab in partnership with The Denver Post, was both somber and upbeat.

Larry Mizel, chairman and CEO of MDC Holdings, parent company of Richmond American Homes, and founder of the Mizel Institute, The CELL’s parent organization, told a small crowd gathered during the run-up to the official commemoration that the night was not only about remembering the tragedy and bravery of the day of the attacks but also about “recognizing the importance of our community coming together.”

“This night is in recognition to all the dignitaries, the first-responders, the police and firemen — for the protection you provide. This is to each of you, and everyone, for all you give to our country and to our state and cities.

Hickenlooper said the night was as much about the future as the past.

“There are those who continue to threaten our freedoms and way of life,” he said. “This forum is so important for that reason. It shows that we remain committed to safeguarding our values.”

Hancock called for members of the military and first-responders in the audience to stand for applause. He celebrated the dedication of the Armed Forces who have served ever since the attacks.

“The commitment the members of our military have made in Afghanistan and Iraq and around the world over the last decade is awe-inspiring,” he said. “We can never repay that debt.”

In his benediction, Rabbi Richard Rheins prayed that “we may prove ourselves worthy of the sacrifices” made on behalf of our safety. He prayed for peace, for a world where people would no longer “lean on the sword” to solve disputes and no longer feel the need to “learn the art of war.”

— john.tomasic@gmail.com