VIDEO: Palm Harbor Firefighter Honors Heroes at September 11 Memorial

A Palm Harbor firefighter played a big role helping the city of Tarpon Springs dedicate a memorial to honor public servants who gave the ultimate sacrifice. 

Fire, police and city officials gathered around the Tarpon Springs Public Safety Memorial Garden on Wednesday morning to honor fallen heroes. Tom Fritz, of Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, performed a bagpipe edition of Amazing Grace.

The memorial features  a number of components, including a rusted piece of steel from the World Trade Center in New York City. 

An area of bricks form a badge on the ground where two 10-foot towers, replicating the World Trade Center, sit in one corner, and a stone slab sits in the other.

During the presentation, Tarpon Springs Fire Chief Richard Butcher spoke, along with Mayor David O. Archie and Thomas B. Dobies, of Dobies Funeral Home, who was responsible for donating the stone slab memorial.

The slab has the names of four Tarpon Springs law enforcement officials lost in the line of duty: Patrolman Everett E. Blewfield, Marshal Rueben T. Jones, Police Officer Lanny Rhea Langford and Police Officer, Marshall "Rat" Whitehurst. 

"We hope and pray that no more names, and I repeat no more names, are ever added to this memorial," Tarpon Springs Police Chief Robert Kochen said. 

While at the podium, Mayor Archie read a poem entitled One by Cheryl Sawyer, which sent a wave of emotion through those in attendance. 

The garden recognizes heroes from Tarpon Springs as well as thousands lost on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York City.

"It's both inspiring and a little sad that we have to have a memorial," said Mayor Archie. "What it does show is the spirit of our community and the people in our community."

The memorial was designed and built by members of the Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue squad. With some help from the pros, Fire Chief Richard Butcher designed the layout of the memorial. 

Retired Tarpon Springs firefighter Bill Storms is responsible for the construction of the two towers. 

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