9/11 ceremony set in Port Angeles at noon today

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, September 11, 2019

PORT ANGELES — A Coast Guardsman who helped procure the World Trade Center I-beam for 9/11 Memorial Waterfront Park will be among the speakers at a ceremony at the park at noon today.

The formal ceremony will honor first responders and the lives lost during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, at the park formerly known as Francis Street Park, 400 N. Francis St.

It will feature presentations by public safety officials, patriotic music and bagpipes, said Alan Barnard, who is organizing the event.

Barnard is the chair and founder of the Public Safety Tribute Citizens Committee and co-creator of both monuments at the park.

An honor guard will perform a flag ceremony, the Grand Olympics Chorus will sing patriotic music and Rick McKenzie will play bagpipes.

Sam Allen, petty officer first class in the U.S. Coast Guard, who helped procure the World Trade Center I-beam for the park, will speak.

Presentations by Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict, Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith, Port Angeles Fire Chief Ken Dubuc and Sheriff’s Chaplain Ed Evans also are planned.

Barnard was instrumental, along with Coast Guardsmen Andrew Moravec and Allen, in obtaining the I-beam for the park.

The Coast Guardsmen asked the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey for the piece in 2009, and delivery was sanctioned by the 9/11 Commission.

It was pulled from a building where 2,752 people died, including 343 New York City firefighters, 37 Port Authority police officers and 23 New York City police officers.

After the conclusion of the ceremony, McKenzie and the American Legion Riders are expected to head to either Veterans Memorial Park or the Port Angeles Fire Department’s station on Fifth Street to honor first responders.

Barnard said an announcement of the location would be made at the ceremony.