- November 1, 2024
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A dozen red roses fell into the waves off the end of the Flagler Beach pier as locals released them during a ceremony Tuesday morning in remembrance of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Approximately 50 people attended the event, which was organized by the Knights of Columbus Council 10514 and drew local residents, veterans, Junior ROTC students, law enforcement and fire rescue personnel and officials from Flagler Beach and Flagler County. (City of Palm Coast officials held their own separate ceremony immediately preceding a regular 9 a.m. Palm Coast City Council workshop.)
"We have freedom that these men have defended, that these young people will defend, and that those that died on Sept. 11 defended in our name," event chairman Kevin Ryan said during a speech on the pier. "But I most certainly do not want us to forget some of the unsung heroes: Those families, those friends, those that lost our heroes in the fight that day — and it was a fight. ... And all those that remain overseas, that wear uniforms, and wear uniforms in their heart every day, are the heroes of this country every single day. The greatest honor bestowed after that day was that everybody got up the next day and went to work. We kept on going. We keep on going."
The Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Color Guard led the procession down the pier, and the ceremony was followed by a procession from the Flagler Beach Pier to the Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church, where a special Mass was held.