A new 9/11 memorial monument will be dedicated at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Francis Street Park (near Olympic Medical Center). Sunday is the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks.
The monument is placed in the flag pavilion opposite the existing Public Safety Monument dedicated on Sept. 11, 2002.
The new monument will feature a 9 foot I-beam recovered from Ground Zero in New York City, the site of the fallen World Trade Center Twin Towers. It will honor both those who perished on that day and to the men and women who serve in Public Safety in Clallam County every day.
Both monuments were conceived, designed, funded and built by private citizens and civic groups of Clallam County and under the direction of the Public Safety Tribute Committee founded and chaired by Alan Barnard, a managing broker at Windermere Real Estate in Port Angeles.
The new monument was inspired and originated by Sam Allen and Andrew Moravec, both stationed with the Coast Guard in Port Angeles at the time. Allen has since been transferred to duty in Puerto Rico but arrive for the dedication.
A 45-minute ceremony
The dedication will feature a Coast Guard helicopter flyover, flag ceremony by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard with the PA High School ROTC, the national anthem sung by Teresa Pierce, invocation by Tim Richards and patriotic songs by the Grand Olympics Chorus. Fire and police equipment will be on display and the American Legion Riders assisted by the Patriot Guard Riders will provide a flag line.
Prepared remarks from Public Safety representatives will follow, with a personal account from Linda Dowdell who lived near Ground Zero, of her reflections on the events of 9/11. Participants in the design and construction will be introduced and Allen, Moravec and Barnard will review the development of the project.
Parking will be on-street in the area and at Windermere at 711 E. Front St., a block away. Space will be limited at the monument; attendees should prepare to stand for the 45-minute ceremony. Fire and police equipment will be on display and the American Legion Riders assisted by the Patriot Guard Riders will provide a flag line. All Public Safety personnel, local state and federal are invited, in or out of uniform and the general public are invited.
Monument the work of many
Allen and Moravec learned artifacts from Ground Zero were to be donated to communities across the United States and applied to receive one for Clallam County. After two years of paperwork, they received approval and sought a local nonprofit sponsor to take responsibility for the artifact so it could be released. Barnard invited them to join with him and the Public Safety Tribute Committee to secure a sponsor and work on design, funding and construction.
The Port Angeles Fire Department Auxiliary, through Tami Ziegler, president, stepped up to sponsor the beam. Through the generosity of many citizens who contributed donations and the direct efforts of many who participated in the design and construction, the memorial monument was made possible. Participants include Bob Stokes of Studio Bob, Gray Lucier of Lucier Studio, Alex Anderson of Alex Anderson Concrete, Laurel Black of Laurel Black Design, Jay Ketchum of Affordable Crane, Bill Roberds and Noon Rotary, Norwester Rotary, Structures To Go and the City of Port Angeles.
