Wellington To Host Ceremony Recognizing 25th Anniversary Of 9/11

By Fiona Slusarev

The Village of Wellington will recognize the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with a morning remembrance ceremony on Friday, Sept. 11 in partnership with the Fire Chief’s Association of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the Wellington Community Foundation.

At 8:46 a.m., the same time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center, village officials, law enforcement and fire-rescue personnel, joined by residents from across the community, will gather to honor the victims and first responders of the attacks. Held at the Wellington Amphitheater and Patriot Memorial, the event will offer a light breakfast while Wellington Village Council members speak, and Lt. Col. Todd Beer gives an address.

Beer, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force for more than 20 years, piloted Air Force One for President George W. Bush during the aftermath of the attacks. He will share his story about how he and President Bush handled the information they received immediately following the attacks as the country worked to understand what happened. He will also recount how he and the plane’s crew planned and executed the mission to fly the president to safety. Beer will also be expanding on his story at a ticketed keynote presentation at 11 a.m. in the Wellington Community Center.

Beer’s address is made possible in part by support from the Wellington Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the community by serving seniors, children and veterans. The nonprofit provides vital support and services to neighbors across the community.

Wellington Community Foundation Chair Jim Sackett is proud to contribute to honoring the victims, survivors and heroes in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

“This is a wonderful event for our community, and we look forward to seeing everyone there,” Sackett said. “We wanted to be sure our local heroes were able to be up close and personal with heroic veteran Todd Beer. Being able to invite American Legion Post 390 is one of our greatest honors.”

The master of ceremonies will be Ashley Glass, morning news anchor at WPTV. Along with Beer’s address and comments from elected officials, the ceremony will include the national anthem and invocation, a presentation of colors, the laying of a wreath, a moment of silence, a rendition of “Taps” and a gun salute. It is expected that 1,000 or more people will be in attendance.

Wellington Village Manager Jim Barnes sees the ceremony as a way to unite the community for a shared moment of reflection on the almost 3,000 lives lost, and honor the firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel and other first responders that ran toward danger to help others.

“The 25th anniversary is a significant milestone, and we want this year’s ceremony to reflect the importance of that moment while remaining true to the purpose of the event: remembrance. The event will be an immersive and heartfelt tribute honoring the victims, knowing that many attending may have lost loved ones during the attacks or were responders on that fateful day,” Barnes said.

Now 25 years after the attacks, many adults can remember the tragedy and living through the tumultuous time that followed, while young adults and teens were born into a world that views 9/11 retrospectively. Barnes hopes to show young community members that the attacks aren’t just history and to bring all generations together for a time for reflection.

“For our younger residents in particular, I hope they take away an understanding that history is not just something we read about. It is something that shapes who we are and the responsibilities we have to one another,” Barnes explained.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on Channel 20, as well as posted to the village’s YouTube channel. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to find a seat before the prompt 8:46 a.m. start. All community members are invited to participate in this memorial honoring the victims, families and first responders affected by the 9/11 attacks.

“We hope people leave remembering that, even in our darkest moments, we are capable of extraordinary acts of courage, kindness and unity,” Barnes said. “Twenty-five years can create distance from an event, but it should never diminish our commitment to remember. We should remember the lives lost, honor those who served and recognize the importance of looking out for one another.”

For more information about the September 11th Remembrance Memorial, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/663/September-11th-Remembrance-Ceremony.