Friday morning Sept. 11, 2015 was clear and blue and already very hot. The air was perfectly still at the Veterans Memorial in Sebastian; the flag at half mast, motionless.
Joining fellow Americans across the country, men, women and children had come together for a Patriot Day Observance, remembering the horror of another bright blue morning 14 years ago.
The St. Peter’s Academy 6th graders, who so touchingly sang patriotic songs, were not yet born on that terrible day, when nearly 3,000 people perished in acts of terror that forever changed America.
The ceremony began with a Military Recall and Assembly at 8:43 a.m., the moment when the first hijacked airliner struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower.
In a solemn procession, firefighters and other service members placed eight wreaths at the monument to honor the victims of 9-11.
Following a moment of silence, a 21-gun salute sliced the heavy air over the river.
Knights of Columbus St. Sebastian Council 8009 Grand Knight Gerald Rott presented First Responder Awards to Indian River Fire Recue Battalion Chief Cory Richter and Sebastian Police Department Officer Bradley Bauer.
Speakers shared personal experiences and memories, exhorting attendees to always remember, to remain vigilant and to go forward with hope.
Photos by Phil Sunkel