Ride to remember: Flagler County motorcycle clubs host 18th annual 9/11 Memorial Ride and Ceremony

The Palm Coast Knights of the Inferno Firefighters Motorcycle Club and the Flagler Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club led the ride which began with a ceremony at the Flagler County courthouse.

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Joe Vece, the Palm Coast chapter president of the Knights of the Inferno Firefighters Motorcycle Club, has helped organize the 9/11 Memorial Ride and Ceremony in Flagler County for the past 18 years.

“Everybody was doing fund raisers for 9/11, but nobody was remembering those we lost,” Vece said on the eve of the 18th annual event. “We decided we wanted to do a memorial. And the way to do a memorial is you don’t charge for it.”

The 18th annual event on Sept. 8 began with a ceremony outside of the Flagler County courthouse. The 65- to 70-mile police-escorted ride followed with hundreds of motorcycle riders participating. The ride began at the courthouse, went north to St. Johns County and south into Volusia County before returning to Flagler County and ending at 1405 Saloon in Bunnell.

The local Knights of the Inferno club presented the event with the Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Flagler chapter, also participating. Flagler County partnered with the clubs. Politis and Matovina Attorneys at Law, Monster Motorcycles and 1405 Saloon were among the sponsors.

Vece said the ride had its largest participation on the event’s 10th anniversary when an estimated 4,500 riders began the trek with a line of bikes stretching 13 miles long.

Former WKMG meteorologist Tom Sorrells emcee’d the ceremony for the ninth straight year. Speakers included Vece, Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker, Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson and Commissioner John Rogers, Bunnell Police Chief David Brannon and Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin.

Alfin’s daughter and Matanzas High School graduate Melanie DiMartino sang the national anthem as well as “God Bless the USA,” and “God Bless America.”

John Krieger, vice president of the Knights of the Inferno Palm Coast chapter, recited the Firefighters’ Prayer, FCSO Division Chief David Williams recited the Law Enforcement Prayer and Tucker recited the Emergency Medical Services Prayer.

John Gayle, representing the Flagler Punishers club said, “We will continue to do this every year to show we will not forget.”

“Let us never forget,” Rogers said. “(The terrorist attack) brought us to our knees for a moment, but our spirit was never broken. Let us never remain silent.”

Staly said we should also not forget the impact the tragedy continues to have on the families of the victims and the many first responders and volunteers who later suffered severe symptoms from breathing in toxic fumes from the rubble.

Palm Coast Fire Department Lt. Patrick Juliano, also known as the Paddy Piper, played bagpipes, closing the ceremony with “Amazing Grace.”

 

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