A time for words, a time for silence: Palm Coast Elks host 9-11 remembrance

'We have accepted responsibility to never forget,' said Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin.

By Brian McMillan
| 1:50 p.m. September 11, 2021

Jim Dartley, pipe sergeant with Coastal Florida Police ad Fire Pipe and Drums. Photo by Brian McMillan

John Feind observes a display of photos commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9-11. Photo by Brian McMillan

Attendees were invited to place flowers at the base of the twisted beam monument. Photo by Brian McMillan

Photo by Brian McMillan

Shirley Ferencz attended the Elks ceremony with her Harley-Davidson in honor of her husband, who was a firefighter who responded on 9-11. Photo by Brian McMillan

Photo by Brian McMillan

Jerry Dickens Sr., keynote speaker. Photo by Brian McMillan

County Commissioner Greg Hansen. Photo by Brian McMillan

First responders and emergency medical personnel who were on the scene on Sept. 11, 2001, were honored at the Elks ceremony. Photo by Brian McMillan

Marty Syken, president of the 10-13 Club of Northeast Florida. Photo by Brian McMillan

Jerry Dickens Sr. and Felipe Periu. Photo by Brian McMillan

John Clouser and Al Ceci. Photo by Brian McMillan

Cathy Collaro and Georgia Hall. Photo by Brian McMillan

Ralph Dodge and Ken Pento. Photo by Brian McMillan

Deputies Dorsey and Jurec. Photo by Brian McMillan

Ron Petrillo. Photo by Brian McMillan

Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin. Photo by Brian McMillan

Photo by Brian McMillan

Palm Coast Observer
News

The work of remembering was taken up at the Palm Coast Elks Lodge 2709 on the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

Dignitaries' speeches recounted the tragedies of the day, including the deaths in the World Trade Center and Pentagon, the deaths on the planes, the deaths of the immediate rescue efforts and the deaths caused by the after-effects of the toxic dust. Moments of silence commemorated each step in the morning's timeline:

8:46 a.m. American Airlines Flight 11 strikes World Trade Center Tower 1;
9:03 a.m. United Airlines Flight 175 strikes World Trade Center Tower 2;
9:37 a.m. American Airlines Flight 77 strikes the Pentagon;
9:59 a.m. South Tower 2 collapses;
10:03 a.m. United Flight 93 crashes into the ground in Pennsylvania;
10:10 a.m. Western section of the Pentagon collapses;
10:28 a.m. North Tower 1 collapses;
5:20 p.m. World Trade Center Building 7 collapses.

Dozens of first responders and medical personnel — local people who were directly involved in the rescue effort after the terrorist attacks — came forward to stand in front of the Elks Lodge's twisted metal beams that form the 9/11 memorial.

Speakers at the event were Bill Hall and John Clouser, of the Elks Club; Jerry Dickens Sr., formerly of the Fire Department of New York; Greg Hansen, Flagler County commissioner; Rick Staly, Flagler County sheriff; Fred Gleissner, retired New York firefighter; Lenny Ensalaco, Flagler County Fire Rescue deputy chief; and David Alfin, mayor of Palm Coast.

Staly asked those in attendance to remember the heroism of those who ran toward danger, rather than remembering the acts of the terrorists that day.

Flags and wreaths were presented, and audience members were invited to place flowers at the base of the memorial.

Alfin's concluding speech quoted Virgil, who wrote: "No day shall erase you from the memory of time." Alfin continued: "Through the passage of time, our hearts are healed; our sorrow becomes less. But through time and every single day, nothing can ever erase the memory of those we loved. We have accepted responsibility to never forget, and, indeed, we will never forget."

author

Brian McMillan

Brian McMillan and his wife, Hailey, bought the Observer in 2023. Before taking on his role as publisher, Brian was the editor from 2010 to 2022, winning numerous awards for his column writing, photography and journalism, from the Florida Press Association.