By Dee Longfellow
A solemn ceremony
The Elmhurst Police and Fire Color Guard process in to place the flag at half-staff during the dedication ceremony for the First Responders Memorial sculpture on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The sculpture was created by Elmhurst resident artist Jason Peot and includes a piece of one of the twin tower buildings that fell in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.
It was a bright sunny morning on Wednesday, Sept. 11 as more than 100 people gathered at the south fire station at 601 S. York Road for a dedication ceremony for the City’s First Responders Memorial—a sculpture created by Elmhurst artist Jason Peot.
The sculpture, which includes an actual relic from one of the twin towers that fell on 9/11, was placed right in front of the firehouse and stands as a remembrance of that fateful day in 2001 when so many first responders lost their lives in New York following the terrorist attack.
Fire Chief Richard Dufort offered opening remarks, followed by the colors presented by the Elmhurst Fire and Police Honor Guard.
Eric Pulia of the American Legion Post THB #187 led the pledge of allegiance, followed by an invocation by Rev. H. Scott Matheney and a welcome from Mayor Scott Levin.
After assistant city manager Kent Johnson gave an overview of the project, Peot talked about his concept for the sculpture.
Other speakers were Police Chief Michael McLean, who recited a poem, “We Shall Never Forget,” followed by firefighter Kevin Cork who read, “My Ambition.”
Music for the event was provided by the York High School brass quartet under the direction of Michael Pavlik. The quartet included Adam Higgings, trumpet; Matthew Markwald, trumpet; Sam Deverman, horn; Vasili Malamis, trombone; and Anthony D’Allesandro, tuba.
Also performing was Elmhurst’s own Brian Costello on bagpipes.
Around the base of the sculpture are paver bricks that are available for purchase for $300 to add a personal remembrance to the memorial.
For more information, visit the City’s web site at elmhurst.org.
More than 100 residents, elected officials, business and community leaders, as well as fire and police personnel from throughout the City, came out on Wednesday, Sept. 11 for the dedication of the First Responders Memorial sculpture placed at the south firehouse.
