Pictured: 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines Cpl. Charles Park plays Taps at the end of dedication of New York Drive as a memorial to 9/11. Photo: Raul Roa/Pasadena Sun
by Bill Westphal
A stretch of New York Drive in Pasadena was dedicated as a memorial to the victims of 9/11 on Sunday, the tenth anniversary of the tragic event. The dedication was well attended. Numerous police, fire, and military personnel were on hand along with the usual government dignitaries. More pictures after the jump.
Photo: Bill Westphal/Altadenablog
The Dedication Ceremonies open with the Marine Corps Color Guard Presenting the Colors, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.
Photo: F-18 Hornet flyover as seen from Altadena. Chris Considine/Altadenablog
And just when you thought your feelings of patriotisim were at their peak, they were thrown over the top by a low-level flyby of two F-18 Hornets.
9/11 survivor Kevin Danni tells his story. Photo: Bill Westphal/Altadenablog
All the Government Dignitaries and Ploice and Fire Officials made their speeches but what really moved Lynne and I were the speeches given by two 9-11 Survivors.
Kevin Danni was in the south tower of the World Trade Center when the attack occurred. He told a moving story about seeing the first tower in flames after being hit by the plane and how they were in the process of evacuating when the second plane hit the south tower 15 floors above him. What moved me the most was his account of going down the stairs and passing countless firefighters on their way up. The firefighters were telling him "you're going to be OK, everything is safe below". 343 Firefighters and Paramedics were killed that day.
Denise Campbell, 9/11 survivor. Photo: Bill Westphal/Altadenablog
Denise Campbell was also a survivor. She was staying in the World Trade Center Marriott when the attack occurred. She recounted how she ran outside in her pajamas just in time to see the second plane hit the South Tower. She read an emotional letter, while fighting back tears, that she wrote to an unknown individual who she saw jump to his death. There wasn't a dry eye in the audience.
Pilot Steve Tamkin, of the Tamkin Foundation, left, listens in as Air Force Cpt. John McDannel speaks during dedication of New York Drive. Tamkin's foundation donated $25,000 to McDannel's inspiration to make New York Drive a memorial. Photo: Raul Roa/Pasadena Sun
John McDannel is the force behind the New York Drive Memorial. He has planted 140 oak trees along New York Drive and along with the Pasadena 9-11 Memorial Committee has worked tirelessly to bring his dreams into reality. Much more is planned including a memorial which hopefully will include to I-Beams from the World Trade Center debris and a small park along New York Drive where the memorial will reside.
We're still getting ID on some of these folks, but: from left, Pasadena City Manager Michael Beck, Congressman Adam Schiff, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, Pasadena City Councilman Terry Tornek, Pasadena City Councilman Gene Masuda, Tanganica Turner of Assemblyman Portantino's staff, unknown, John McDannel, and Assemblyman Anthony Portantino. Photo: Bill Westphal/Altadenablog
Update: Thanks to Monica Hubbard and Bill Westphal for helping us with the ID's!
