Fire Chiefs Association to Host 9-11 Memorial Ceremony

For immediate release: Sept. 3, 2009
Contact: Public Affairs, (561) 355-2754

On September 11, 2009, National Patriot’s Day, the Fire Chief’s Association of Palm Beach County will host a “Remembrance Ceremony” at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton at 9 a.m.

The event will include participants and speakers from local fire and law enforcement departments and will also include fire apparatus, honor guards, EMS, law enforcement personnel and pipe and drum corps.  The featured guest speaker will be Retired FEMA Director R. David Paulison.

In keeping with fire service tradition, the “ringing of the bells” will toll throughout the amphitheater to honor “The 343.”  The ringing of the bells represents the official end of an emergency and the return to quarters of all firefighters.  The bells ring out five tones, three times in the case of a line-of-duty death, and this marks a firefighter’s answering of the “final call.” There will also be a 21-gun salute to honor the fallen from law enforcement.

In the aftermath of this infamous tragedy, 2,996 civilians were either confirmed dead or reported missing and unaccounted for.  In addition to the 343 firefighters, there were also 23 New York City police officers, 37 officers from the New York Port Authority and eight private EMS personnel.

The Fire Chief’s Association of Palm Beach County would like to invite you to be part of this special event.