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Obama to attend UA memorial service for Tucson shooting victims

Updated Jan 10, 2011, 9:16 pm

Dylan Smith
TucsonSentinel.com

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are joined by White House staff on the South Lawn as they observe a moment of silence to honor the victims of the tragic shootings in Tucson.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will attend a memorial service at the University of Arizona on Wednesday to honor the victims of Saturday's shooting.

The free public event "Together We Thrive: Tucson and America" will be held at McKale Center beginning at 6 p.m.

Doors will open at 4 p.m. Attendees should arrive early because a large crowd and heavy security are expected, the university said.

The start of spring semester classes has been postponed from Wednesday to Thursday, the university said.

Obama, UA President Robert Shelton, and state and federal officials will speak at the event.

The event is to include a Native American blessing, a moment of silence, a poetry reading and a presentation of a paper chain messages from the public.

UA students, employees and visitors are encouraged to visit the UA Mall on Wednesday afternoon to write messages on the chain, the university said.

Moment of silence

Video from a moment of silence at the White House on Monday to remember the victims of the shooting rampage in Tucson.

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