On Sept. 11 Colorado leaders will commemorate the nation’s worst terrorist attack at a Denver discussion titled “Tensions on the Rise: North Korea, Iran and Al Qaeda.”

Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock are expected to speak, according to organizers of the annual observance, the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL).

The Colorado Remembers 9/11 anniversary event will begin at 7 p.m. on Sept. 11 in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

Each year, the observance includes a discussion of threats to U.S. security.

This year’s forum will include

• Gen. Stanley McChrystal, a four-star general who served as the commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan and led the Joint Special Operations Command. His led the JSOC during the capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003, as well as the JSOC tracking down and killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, in 2006.
• Former U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, who served in Congress for 26 years and chaired of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from 2013 to 2019. He authored legislation to address threats from Iran, North Korea and Russia.
• Ambassador Christopher Hill, a four-time ambassador for three presidents, whose last post was in Iraq from April 2009 until August 2010. He served as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs from 2005 until 2009, which included being the head of the U.S. delegation to the Six Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue. He is currently chief global advisor at the University of Denver Office of Global Engagement.
• Tom Sanderson, who co-founded and directed the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies from 2002 to 2018. “He investigated terrorism, insurgency and criminal networks across 70 countries, interviewing NGOs, journalists, terrorists, traffickers, refugees, intelligence officials, business leaders and clergy,” the CELL said. Sanderson advises governments and businesses on “detecting, understanding and navigating” global risks and opportunities.

The ceremony will include the posting of the colors by the Colorado National Guard Honor Guard, the playing of taps and a bell ceremony to honor those killed on 9/11.

More information on the event is available by clicking here.