PORT ANGELES — A formal ceremony honoring first responders and the lives lost during the 9/11 terrorist attacks is set for noon Sept. 11 at 9/11 Memorial Waterfront Park in Port Angeles.
The ceremony at what was previously called Francis Street Park, 400 N. Francis St., will feature presentations by public safety officials, patriotic music and bagpipes, said Alan Barnard, who is organizing the event.
“The nature of the event that happened to our country was so horrendous that there’s a commitment afterward to never forget, lest we could allow it to repeat itself,” Barnard said Monday. “Every year we rededicate to remember and to never forget so we can maintain our vigil and hope that sort of event won’t happen to us again.”
Barnard is the chair and founder of the Public Safety Tribute Citizens Committee and co-creator of both monuments at the park.
An honor guard will perform a flag ceremony, the Grand Olympics Chorus will sing patriotic music and Rick McKenzie will play bagpipes.
Presentations by Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict, Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith, Port Angeles Fire Chief Ken Dubuc and Sheriff’s Chaplain Ed Evans are planned.
Sam Allen, petty officer first class in the U.S. Coast Guard, who helped procure the World Trade Center I-beam at the park, also will be speaking.
In previous years, Barnard had planned formal ceremonies, but it began to get difficult to organize everyone.
In 2016, he helped plan another ceremony — the catalyst for the ceremonies that have happened since then.
“As far as I know it’s the only [ceremony] in Clallam County recognizing 9/11,” he said.
After the ceremony at the park, McKenzie will play bagpipes at Veterans Memorial Park on Lincoln Street near the Clallam County Courthouse.
Barnard was instrumental, along with Coast Guardsmen Andrew Moravec and Allen, in obtaining a portion of an I-beam from the World Trade Center that rises skyward at the park.
The Coast Guardsmen asked the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey for the piece in 2009, and delivery was sanctioned by the 9/11 Commission.
It was pulled from a building where 2,752 people died, including 343 New York City firefighters, 37 Port Authority police officers and 23 New York City police officers.
After the conclusion of the ceremony, McKenzie and the American Legion Riders are expected to head to either Veterans Memorial Park or the Port Angeles Fire Department’s station on Fifth Street to honor first responders. Barnard said an announcement of the location would be made at the ceremony at 9/11 Memorial Waterfront Park.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
