ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Community members, city leaders and first responders gathered Friday morning in Port St. Lucie to honor the victims and survivors of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, 25 years after the tragedy.
Port St. Lucie marks 25 years since 9/11 with remembrance ceremony. (WPEC)
The city’s annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony was held at the Memorial Fountain at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center.
Port St. Lucie marks 25 years since 9/11 with remembrance ceremony. (WPEC)
Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin, Police Chief Leo Niemczyk, St. Lucie County Fire District Firefighter/Paramedic Allen Civita and other local public safety leaders took part in the ceremony. Retired New York City Police Department detective Rafael Diaz served as the guest speaker, and the Port St. Lucie High School Choir performed.
Port St. Lucie marks 25 years since 9/11 with remembrance ceremony. (WPEC)
For Port St. Lucie resident Michael Cozzolino, the anniversary brought back memories of watching the attacks unfold while he was in Florida for work.
“I remember I was living in Connecticut at the time, I was here in Florida, had no way back, just a rental car, and we all piled in a rental car and drove back,” Cozzolino said. “I’ll never forget that day.”
Port St. Lucie marks 25 years since 9/11 with remembrance ceremony. (WPEC)
Cozzolino said the uncertainty in the hours after the attacks was frightening.
“When’s the next strike? When’s the next strike?” he said. “But that was the fear. What’s next? Especially being a defense contractor. Don’t know where they’re going to hit next.”
He said seeing the community gather at the memorial was meaningful.
Port St. Lucie marks 25 years since 9/11 with remembrance ceremony. (WPEC)
“The way they do this, they have the steel flowers, flags. Very patriotic here,” Cozzolino said. “This town’s very diverse town, and it’s a great town to live in.”
Cozzolino, a member of the Nam Knights Motorcycle Club of America, said the anniversary remains especially emotional for many first responders and veterans.
Port St. Lucie marks 25 years since 9/11 with remembrance ceremony. (WPEC)
“We have 84 chapters in the United States. We have 16 here, 17 here alone in Florida. About 1,400 members,” Cozzolino said. “A lot of them were from New York. So, a lot of first responders, and a lot of them have the cancer now.”
The Port St. Lucie ceremony was one of several events across the region marking the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
Port St. Lucie marks 25 years since 9/11 with remembrance ceremony. (WPEC)