HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks postponed Leo F. McHale's heart surgery - and caused a change of heart as well.
When the Frederick resident finally had the operation 15 days later at Washington Hospital Center, he was moved by the large number of burn patients he met who were hurt in the attack on the Pentagon.
``I wrote a letter to the president and said I wanted to help but I didn't know how,'' McHale, 62, said Wednesday. ``A letter came back to me saying, 'by doing what you can for your country.'''
Since then, the retired packaging engineer has tried to honor the memory of Sept. 11 victims through volunteer work and memorial projects. His latest effort will start taking shape Saturday - a 9-foot, 11-inch brick replica of the World Trade Center that will stand outside the New Market Volunteer Fire Co.'s new station about six miles east of Frederick.
The fund-raiser is among dozens of activities scheduled around the state to mark the third anniversary of the attacks. They begin as early as Thursday in Frederick, where the Frederick County Commissioners will proclaim Sept. 11 Patriot Day with a declaration stating: ``Terrorism was not allowed to break the spirit of the American people.''
At a memorial service later in the day, Frederick County will recognize the local family members of two men who died at the World Trade Center, investment banker Alan Linton and New York firefighter Robert Carlo.
On Saturday in Rockville, Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan will join family members of some of the 11 county residents who were lost in the attack on the Pentagon. They will observe a moment of silence at a monument designed to briefly cast sunlight on the names of the victims, and then place white roses on nearby memorial benches.
An evening jazz concert in Silver Spring will feature a tribute to the Montgomery County victims, including musician Scott Powell, who worked at the Pentagon and was among those killed.
Salisbury University will commemorate the anniversary with an outdoor ceremony beginning at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center. The event will begin with a recitation of the Gettysburg Address and include a student-led performance of ``America the Beautiful.''
In Baltimore, the international peace advocacy group Women in Black will create a ``peace path'' along five downtown streets. Organizers said participants will silently hold peace signs in many languages, ``expressing our sorrow for the victims of violence and war.''
Officials of Hagerstown and Washington County will plant four trees Saturday in Hagerstown's City Park honoring firefighters, law-enforcement workers, emergency medical workers and military members. That event will be followed by a procession to Valley Mall for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Remembrance Wall inside the shopping center.
On Saturday afternoon, three Elvis Presley impersonators will appear at an outdoor charity event downtown that organizers say ``shows the patriotic spirit of Hagerstown.'' Proceeds of the event, called Elvis Lives in Hagerstown, will benefit a proposed performing arts school.
``Sept. 11 has become known as Patriot Day, and how appropriate that we celebrate the good and positive of our country, and give back to the community,'' organizer Mark Karcher said.
Events tied to the anniversary continue on Sunday in Baltimore and Tuesday in College Park, when the Americans for Informed Democracy holds town hall meetings to discuss U.S.-Islamic relations.
