- September 17, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Palm Coast firefighters hold up their candles at the Palm Coast 9/11 Candlelight Memorial Service. Photo by Brent Woronoff
PCFD Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill talks to citizens before the 9/11 Candlelight Memorial Service. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Palm Coast Fire Department Honor Guard presents the colors. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler County Sheriff's Office Commander Kenny Goncalves sang the national anthem and "God Bless America". Photo by Brent Woronoff
Lt. Patrick Juliano salutes during the national anthem. Photo by Brent Woronoff
PCFD Honor Guard member firefighter Deviys Crispino. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Temple Beth Shalom Rabbi Karen Tashman delivers the invocation. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin: "Not one of us will ever forget that terrifying day." Photo by Brent Woronoff
Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Palm Coast Deputy Fire Chief and Master of Ceremonies Bradd Clark listens to a tribute during the 9/11 Candlelight Memorial Service. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Memorial wreath provided by Palm Coast Professional Firefighters Local 4807. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Firefighter Jesus Cordova rings the 5-5-5-5 memorial bell toll. Photo by Brent Woronoff
PCFD Firefighter Tim Auerbach plays Taps. Photo by Brent Woronoff
PCFD Chaplain Chris Cottle, Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly and Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin each light a candle representing peace and hope and the firefighters, law enforcement officers and civilians who lost their lives on 9/11. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Firefighters lit candles for people attending the Palm Coast 9/11 Candlelight Memorial Service that was held at Fire Station 21. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Memorial observers hold their candles. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Rev. Jose Panthaplamthottiyil of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church gave the benediction. Photo by Brent Woronoff
PCFD Lt. Patrick Juliano plays "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Palm Coast Fire Department Pipes & Drums: Driver Engineer Michael Ginn, Lt. Patrick Juliano and Firefighter Joshua Gilliam. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Former Palm Coast Fire Department Chief Howard Peiffer salutes during the bell toll at the 9/11 Candlelight Memorial Service. Peiffer, who was a firefighter in New York State before retiring to Palm Coast in 1992, is the vice president of Palm Coast Volunteer Fire Rescue Inc., a nonprofit that supports volunteer firefighters in Palm Coast. Photo by Brent Woronoff
PCFD Driver Engineer/Department Chaplain Chris Cottle reads the Firefighter's Prayer. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Palm Coast's Survivor Tree on Sept. 11, 2024 at Heroes Memorial Park. Three years ago, the city planted a seedling from the Callery pear tree that was the one tree that survived at ground zero of the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attacks. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The prevailing message at Palm Coast’s 9/11 Candlelight Memorial Service — as it was in so many other memorial gatherings on the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks — was “never forget”.
Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin said more than 100 million Americans were not yet born on that tragic day and it is the job of those old enough to remember to pass on the stories of resilience, sacrifice and commitment to serve.
More than 100 babies who were still in the womb lost their fathers in the attacks, Alfin said. He told the story of one of them, Manuel DaMoto Jr. of Long Island, New York, whose father, a carpenter, was working on a project on the Windows on the World restaurant in the North Tower that day.
“Manny was born six months later,” Alfin said.
DaMoto Jr. grew up in a home filled with furniture his father designed and built. DaMoto Sr.'s tools remained in his workroom in the basement. Today, Manny is a student at Pace University, majoring in psychology.
Alfin said it is up to people who remember 9/11 to be the eyes and ears for those too young or were not yet born.
“We must never let 3,000 Americans be taken in vain,” he said. “We must therefore, never forget.”
The city’s annual memorial service was moved form Heroes Memorial Park to Fire Station 21 because of the weather. Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill also spoke. Palm Coast Fire Department Chaplain Chris Cottle, Berryhill, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly and Alfin each lit a candle in honor of those who lost their lives on that day and in the years since from related illnesses. Cottle lit a white candle for peace and hope, Berryhill a red candle for firefighters, Staly a blue candle for law enforcement officers and Alfin a yellow candle for civilians.
Candles were then passed out and lit for all of the people in attendance.
Cottle read the Firefighter’s Prayer. Firefighter Jesus Cordova rang the 5-5-5-5 bell signal honoring those who died. Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Commander Kenny Goncalves sang the national anthem and “God Bless America.” The PCFD Honor Guard and Pipes and Drums presented the colors. Firefighter Tim Auerbach played “Taps.” And Lt. Patrick Juliano played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes to close the service.
