They don't look like this anymore. Denver Post file photo.

By Ivan Moreno, Associated Press

The Beach Boys will headline a free concert in Denver to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, state and city officials said Monday.

Officials announced the free concert as pieces of steel from the World Trade Center were temporarily displayed across from the state Capitol. Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia, who called the mangled steel “a graphic reminder of that day of almost 10 years ago,” said the purpose of the anniversary event is to give Colorado a forum to “salute America’s will to prevail.”

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, who will co-host the free event with Gov. John Hickenlooper, said about the Beach Boys: “You can’t get more American than that. Doesn’t that sound awesome?”

Dozens of people turned out to see the 16 pieces of steel—girders and engine pieces from an elevator—in front of the Denver City and County Building. Some took pictures with their phones and cameras.

“Twisted, lifeless inanimate pieces of steel that remind us of the thousands of lives that were lost that day and the millions of lives that were affected by the events of that day,” Garcia said about the display.

The pieces, draped with an American flag, were being trucked around to different parts of the Denver area for viewing. They will later be displayed at Denver’s Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab, which was created in response to the Sept. 11 attacks.

“I have a lot of sadness, a lot of sadness,” said Rebecca McClellan, 52, a Denver resident who went to Civic Center Park to see the pieces of steel. McClellan said despite her sadness, she believes the attacks were also a unifying moment for the country. “It brought all of us together to be strong and overcome what’s trying to attack us.”

Colorado’s event next month at Civic Center Park will also include a presentation by the Colorado National Guard, a military flyover, and music from the Colorado Symphony.

Follow our news and updates on Twitter, our whereabouts on Foursquare and our relationship status on Facebook. Or send us a telegram.