PORT ANGELES — A formal ceremony honoring first responders and the lives lost during the 9/11 terrorist attacks is set for noon Monday at the newly named 9/11 Memorial Waterfront Park.
The ceremony at what was previously called Francis Street Park will feature presentations by public safety officials, patriotic music and bagpipes, said Alan Barnard, who is organizing the event.
An honor guard will perform a flag ceremony, the Grand Olympics Chorus will sing patriotic music, Rick McKenzie will perform bagpipes and American Legion Riders will form a flag line.
Presentations by Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict, Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith and Port Angeles Fire Chief Ken Dubuc are planned.
Barnard said in previous years, he had planned formal ceremonies, but it began to get difficult to organize everyone. Last year, he helped plan an impromptu ceremony.
“With the City Council approving the request for a name change this year, it seemed appropriate to reinstitute a formal ceremony this year,” he said, adding he’s also had requests from people who want a central ceremony remembering the attacks.
After the ceremony at the park, McKenzie will play bagpipes at the fire station on Fifth Street.
Barnard, chair and founder of the Clallam County Public Safety Tribute Committee, was instrumental, along with Coast Guardsmen Andrew Moravec and Sam Allen, in obtaining a portion of an I-beam from the World Trade Center that rises skyward at 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.
