SATELLITE BEACH – City Hall was awash in red, white and blue for the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with 50 full-size American flags.
Under a bright sun and furling in a nearly-too-strong breeze, those flags were the perfect patriotic backdrop for the solemn ceremony for about 50 people, including representatives from local firefighting agencies, residents and city staff who gathered in a breezeway to specifically remember the 343 firefighters who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks.
The tradition of proudly flying the flags was started 32 years ago by the late Kathleen “Scotty” Culp as a 21-day flag salute around the pond in front of the municipal complex that now bears her name. The city’s matriarch – the first woman in the armed forces to make a planned free-fall parachute jump, and who later logged 30,000 volunteer hours for the city – probably never imagined the flags would become part of the remembrance of such a horrific event.
Organizing the event was Scotty Culp’s son, Ron Culp. The ceremony began and ended with the talents of Air Force Staff Sgt. Bobby Lucas, first playing saxophone on “The Star-Spangled Banner” and switching to trumpet for “Taps” at the conclusion.
In the opening prayer, Satellite Beach Fire Department Chaplain Kendall Nickell thanked the fallen 9/11 first responders and their families who suffered loss for their courage, faithfulness and sacrifice.
“By their selfless acts, we are humbled by their bravery,’’ he said.
Keynote speaker Satellite Beach Fire Chief David Abernathy described the day that changed the world forever, the day 343 firefighters lost their lives rushing to save others during the attacks.
“In a true sense of battle, they were the first to take up against the terrorist attacks. They didn’t grab guns and rifles, they carried air packs and tools. They climbed ladders and countless stairs to save and rescue people they never knew or would ever see again. They went in expecting to come back home to those they left that morning,’’ he said.
Following the brief ceremony punctuated by an official statement over a loudspeaker, volunteers and others carefully retired all 50 flags as the once-strong breeze calmed in the late afternoon.
MERRITT ISLAND – Rain could not keep away the more than 100 Brevard County residents who gathered at Veterans Memorial Park on Friday for the 18th anniversary Memorial for 9/11.
The Brevard County 10-30 Club, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Veterans Memorial Park joined forces to again host a county-wide memorial, bringing the organizations together to host one instead of two events. The Rolling Thunder Armed Forces Motorcycle Club began the tribute by riding into the park, followed by the Presentation of Colors by the Brevard County Police and Fire Pipes and Drum Band.
Lt. Col. Cynthia Watkins, U.S. Army (Ret.), sang the National Anthem. Despite the rain, Watkins “didn’t miss a note,” according to Dean Shaaf, U.S. Navy (Ret.) lieutenant commander.
Although many scrambled to seek shelter from showers, no one left. Each resident present proved Al Boettjer, Brevard County 10-30 Club vice president, right when he said, “Brevard County is a family.”
“It was amazing to see the people stay. About half got up and took cover but the other half stayed. I was in my uniform and got soaked.” Shaaf recalled.
Sharon Nell, a Pentagon Survivor, remarked, “this is not the kind of day it was on 9/11.” She pointed to the rain clouds. “It was an amazing fall day; who could think of what was going to hit us.”
Nell recounted her story and credited being alive to having not moved to her new office yet. They were behind on repairs, a minor delay which Nell said “probably saved my life.”
Rob Medina, director of military relations for Congressman Bill Posey, urged those in attendance “to remember the lives of those lost based on a senseless attack on our ideals. You are honoring each and every one that was lost, that’s your demonstration of love.”
Pictures of fallen first responders were displayed next to a special Sheriff’s cruiser which reads, “Heroes Live Forever,” a reminder of the sacrifices service members and first responders make for our community as well as communities around the world.
Keynote speaker Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey began his speech by asking the audience to raise their hands if they were a law enforcement member so they could be recognized for their devotion to honoring the fallen and protecting the community. Ivey then brought some levity to afternoon by asking the audience to again raise their hands if they ran to hide from the rain. The crowd responded with claps, cheers and sheepishly raised arms as Ivey remarked, “I was just trying to see if any of them were the same hands.”
Ivey continued to speak but in a more somber tone. “It was a day that none of us will ever forget and it was a day as we as a nation must ensure is never forgotten for generations to come,” he said.
“We, as a nation, must never forget the innocent victims that were taken from us that day. The brave men and women who raced into the Twin Towers to save the lives of others, the heroes of United Flight 93 who would not question savings lives through their heroic actions and even in our darkest hour stood as a nation to fight and defeat those with evil in their hearts.”
The Brevard County 10-30 Club, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Veterans Memorial Center plan to continue their missions to honor and remember the fallen men and women and, as Medina said, to pass the baton on to the youth so that “we will never forget.”
Kellie Landi, correspondent, contributed to the article.
