Martin County marks 24th anniversary of Sept. 11 with memorial ceremony honoring victims and first responders

Martin County held a public memorial on Sept. 11, 2025, marking the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with readings, musical performances and remarks honoring victims and first responders.

Scott Risk, district chief of operations for Martin County Fire Rescue, told attendees the nation must remember the scale of the attacks and the sacrifices made, saying the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, “in less than 2 hours, nearly 3,000 innocent lives were lost” and calling the day “the deadliest and most devastating act of terrorism in American history.” He singled out the 343 FDNY firefighters who died and said the attacks “reveal the extraordinary courage of our nation's heroes.”

Risk described how first responders climbed into danger on that day and recounted examples from the national record, including Rick Rescorla, Welles Crowther and passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93, to illustrate “ordinary people [who] became extraordinary heroes.”

Joshua Shell, district chief, Martin County Fire Rescue, offered a brief invocation and prayer during the ceremony and led a remembrance of victims and first responders. The program included the presentation of colors by the Martin County Fire Rescue Honor Guard and the Pledge of Allegiance and The American's Creed read by members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Hal Padioque chapter.

Music was offered by the Opus Choir from Martin County High School, and the national anthem and “God Bless America” were performed by Daryl McGill with sign-language interpretation by Lisa Elaine. Taps was performed by Peter Chirac, and the ceremony concluded with “Amazing Grace” played by bagpipers Adam Bryant and Mike Gibson accompanied by the Opus Choir.

A retired New York City firefighter, Tom Dorsey, who served with Ladder 105, told the audience he has lived through two attacks on the United States and urged attendees to pause and remember those who died. Dennis McKenna, the event organizer, thanked volunteers from the sheriff’s department, fire department and parks department and encouraged community participation in the annual tribute.

During his remarks, the sheriff (name not specified in the record) urged attendees to set aside divisions and return to “one nation under God,” and referenced the need for unity in honoring those who died. The sheriff also cited figures for casualties and referred to events he said demonstrated a need for national unity; those remarks were delivered as part of the ceremony and reflect his views as stated at the event.

Speakers at the ceremony also noted longer-term health consequences for responders, with Risk saying in his remarks that “thousands more first responders have died from cancers and illnesses caused by toxic exposures at Ground Zero” following the attacks. That point was presented as part of his address to the audience.

The memorial program combined formal ceremonial elements, musical tributes and first-hand reflections and concluded with invited musical performances and the playing of Taps. No formal actions, motions or policy decisions were part of the event.