9/11 memorial events Thursday in Brunswick County

This Thursday, Sept. 11, the FDNY-Carolina Retirees Association will once again have a 9/11 memorial service.

The service will honor the memory of the 343 emergency and New York Fire Department members who were killed in the line of duty on that date seven years ago, on Sept. 11, 2001.

The day’s events will begin at 8 a.m. with a memorial Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church at Eighth Avenue North off U.S. 17 in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

At 10 a.m., a motorcade will leave the Food Lion parking lot at Carolina Commons Shopping Center on U.S. 17 in Carolina Shores.

The motorcade will consist of FDNY-CRA members, local fire and emergency apparatus, motorcycle riders from Brunswick County Concerned Bikers Association, Red Knights Motorcycle Club, and American Legion Riders, Post 503.

The motorcade will proceed to the rest area at U.S. 17 and N.C. 130 in Shallotte where other interested parties will join.

The Calabash Lions Club will once again be on the N.C. 130 overpass waving flags and at passing traffic to remind passers-by to “never forget.” The American Legion, VFW and anyone else interested have been invited to bring a flag of any size and join them as the names of those who died on 9/11 are read.

The motorcade will proceed to Brunswick County Community College where an 11 a.m. service will take place at Victory Garden.

Featured at the service will be the FDNY-CRA Honor Guard, the raising of a flag that flew over Ground Zero during rescue and recovery operations, and the placing of a wreath.

Bagpipers and a singer will also be in attendance. Guest speakers include Brunswick County Sheriff John Ingram, Brunswick County Emergency Service Director Randy Thompson and FDNY-CRA president Larry Tracey.

The FDNY-CRA is an organization of retired FDNY personnel now living in the Carolinas. Read more about some of its members in today’s Tidelines (C) section.