Over 500 people attended the 9-11 Tribute Memorial dedication on Saturday, September 13, at the Redondo Beach Civic Center. The event began with the Redondo Beach Police Department's Honor Guard, followed by the procession of Lt. Gerard Moriarty (FDNY, Retired), Bobby Senn (FDNY, Retired), Sgt. John Flynn (NYPD) and the Los Angeles Police Department's Pipe and Drum Band. Mallory Gantner, daughter of Leadership Redondo Class of 2007 member Georgette Gantner, sang the National Anthem while members of the U.S. Marine Corps raised a U.S. flag, which flew over recovery efforts at Ground Zero, on the flag pole above the Redondo Beach Police Department. The Invocation was given by Chaplain George Negrete from the Los Angeles City Fire Department.
Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin welcomed everyone to the event, and touched on the importance and significance of what the Leadership Redondo Class of 2007 had accomplished with building such a beautiful memorial. State Assemblymember Ted Lieu spoke after Mayor Gin, and was followed by Master of Ceremonies Glen Walker, a news anchor from CBS 2/KCAL 9. Walker told the story of how the City of Redondo Beach received the 300 lb artifact from the FDNY. He talked about the brotherhood that had formed between the members of the Redondo Beach Police and Fire Departments and the FDNY.
The Leadership Redondo Class of 2007, was represented by Project Leader Captain Tom Krafick (RBPD) and Landscape Architect Deborah Richie-Bray. Captain Krafick gave a brief narrative of the class, while Richie-Bray discussed in detail the design of the 9-11 Tribute.
Airline personnel were represented by Darren Shiroma, the Local Council President for the United Airlines Association of Flight Attendants. Shiroma discussed the bravery the flight attendants and pilots displayed on September 11, 2001, and thanked the Leadership Redondo Class for including airline personnel in the dedication.
Brad Burlingame, brother of Captain Charles "Chic" Burlingame, pilot of Amercian Airlines flight #77, which crashed into the Pentagon, gave a touching recount of the love his brother had for flying. Holding back tears, he also told the crowd his brother was one of the first to lose their life on September 11 after fighting with the hijackers for over four minutes.
Bobby Senn (FDNY, Retired), keynote speaker for the dedication, shared with the crowd his recollection of the day in his life when he died and was given a second chance. Senn recalled details of the day, from kissing his wife goodbye on his way to work, to calling her to say goodbye after he had escaped from being trapped in the first tower collapse.
The event concluded with a 21-Gun Salute, Taps performed by two members of the U.S. Marine Corps, Amazing Grace performed by the Los Angeles Police Department's Pipe and Drum Band, and a helicopter flyover.
Members of the Leadership Redondo Class of 2007 are so proud of what they have accomplished to help remember those tragic events of September 11, 2001. Thank you to everyone who helped make this monument possible.
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