South Florida First Responders Mark 9/11 Anniversary
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- With a march and a moment of silence, South Florida first responders marked the 14th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
In remembrance of those who perished that day, City of Miami firefighters walked through the streets of downtown Miami and held a ceremony at the Miami Riverside Center.
A special announcement also went over their radios before a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m.-- the time the first plane struck the tower.
"Fourteen years ago today, this nation experienced the most heinous attack on our homeland since World War 2...Let us come together as a nation to honor our brothers and sisters who paid the ultimate sacrifice and let us remember the loss of those innocent lives. We will never forget," said the voice over the radio.
After fourteen years, the memory of the tragedy that unfolded in New York City is still fresh for the City of Miami firefighters who responded to ground zero.
"I had never seen such a level of destruction in my life, and it's something that I will never forget," said firefighter Eduardo Cagnia who went to New York City as part of an urban search and rescue team. "At the same time, we were focused on saving lives, find somebody alive in the middle of that disaster."
Miami-Dade fire crews honored the fallen with a fire truck dedication.
Engine 3 is painted with images of the Statue of Liberty and the American flag, and is inscribed with the names of the 343 firefighters who died that day.
The Miami-Dade Police Department also organized a ceremony at Tropical Park, sending a strong message that South Florida will never forget.
"We never forget in the fire service. We lost a lot of brothers and sisters," said Miami Fire Rescue Asst. Fire Chief Pete Gomez. "We will never forget and I urge the country to never forget."
In the Keys, a ceremony was held in the lobby of the main Detention facility on Stock Island. Lt. Colonel Tommy Taylor spoke about the terrorist attacks. A memorial of that day was unveiled during the ceremony and will remain in the main jail lobby in reminder of those who lost their lives that day.
