Martin County marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks Friday with the annual Memorial Bridge Walk at Jock Leighton Park near Veterans Memorial Bridge in Palm City, where county leaders and first responders called for a return to the unity felt in the days after the attacks.
The event honored the nearly 3,000 people killed during the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and aboard hijacked airplanes. Participants crossed Veterans Memorial Bridge carrying photographs representing nearly every person who died.
Martin County Commission Chair Sarah Heard said the country responded with "unity, civility, respect, cooperation, generosity" following the attacks. "We united. We were the United States. This is what I choose to remember," Heard said.
Commissioner Stacey Hetherington reflected on the sense of togetherness Americans experienced after the attacks. "September 12th is also remembered because we united, we came together and we worked in unity," Hetherington said.
Community volunteer Mayce DelValle, who helped organize the memorial walk, carried photographs honoring Mark Zepplin and Kevin Marlowe, people she personally knew who died in the Twin Towers. "These guys were like family to me," DelValle said. "They unfortunately lost their lives in the buildings at the Twin Towers at Ground Zero on that day."
DelValle said one of the most powerful parts of the event was seeing younger generations participate. "It is so important that the young people really understand and never forget those people who lost their lives," DelValle said. "I feel like it's our responsibility as people that were around on 9/11 to make sure people understand what really happened."
Martin County Fire Rescue Chief Chad Cianciulli described the patriotism that emerged immediately following the attacks. "That was a day to be proud to be American," Cianciulli said while discussing Sept. 12, 2001.
Chaplain Hoss Wiggins led a prayer before the walk. "After that awful event, the next day, a nation united in prayer," Wiggins said. "They set aside their differences and they united, and they cried out to God Almighty for help."
Wiggins said memorial events taking place across the country serve as reminders not to forget the sacrifices made by victims, first responders and military members. "The word of God encourages us over and over and over again to remember or don't forget," Wiggins said. "And that's what we're here today to do is to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice."