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Families and survivors honor 98 victims at Surfside memorial; names read and benediction urges action
Summary
Survivors and family members shared testimony about loss and resilience, volunteers and first responders were thanked, the 98 names were read aloud and Rabbi Lipker concluded with a benediction that called for practical steps to improve building safety and accountability.
Multiple survivors used the fourth-anniversary memorial to recount the personal and lasting effects of the Champlain Towers collapse. Devin Gonzalez, who identified himself as a survivor from apartment 904, described waking on piles of rubble with a broken leg and said that financial compensation has not erased grief: "People say I'm lucky or blessed. But what is luck when your entire sense of safety is gone?"
Speakers repeatedly thanked first responders and international rescue teams. Kevin Spiegel identified himself as a former resident of 877 Collins Avenue and thanked Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and USAR teams; he said becoming a chaplain and serving others helped his own healing. Patty Vasquez Bellow described family-centered efforts and the Mam Mossum Foundation's charitable work, including a turf field in the Dominican Republic and aid programs for families affected by disasters.
Chief Ray Jadala, accompanied by firefighter Maggie Castro and Lieutenant Janette Harrington, read the 98 victims' names and asked attendees to reflect on a positive memory for each name. The crowd observed the 12-second silence requested by speakers. Rabbi Lipker closed the ceremony with a benediction that coupled remembrance with a call to action: "If we truly honor them, let us act. Let's make sure buildings are safe before they become burial grounds. Let us hold our leaders accountable."
The memorial emphasized survivor resilience and community support while also pressing for answers from investigators and officials. The ceremony concluded without any formal policy vote or new municipal directive announced on-site.
