Port of San Diego Commemorates National Loss of 9/11

Monday, 12 September 2011

Members of the Board of Port Commissioners and port staff paused this morning, September 12, 2011, in remembrance of the 10^th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on America.

The commemoration, held in the parking lot of the Port of San Diego’s Administration Building, was postponed until this morning due to last week’s county-wide power outage.

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“I’m not going to try to outdo the eloquent remarks made by President Obama and others at remembrance ceremonies held over the weekend,” said Lou Smith, vice chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners.

“We are here to join the nation in honoring the fallen.”

It was noted that the 2,997 lives lost in the terror attacks on our country’s soil included New York Port Authority employees.

Board of Port Commission Chairman Scott Peters also spoke in remembrance of the tragedy. Port Commissioner Bob Nelson attended the ceremony.

The Harbor Police Honor Guard presented the colors, and the National Anthem was played.

Harbor Police Chief John Bolduc, vice president of public safety; Harbor Police Captain Kimberly Fives and Harbor Police Officer Randall Benton also represented the port’s Harbor Police force during the ceremony which was opened by Executive Vice President of Operations Randa Coniglio.

A wreath was placed at the flagpole by Vice Chairman Smith, a retired admiral, and Alan Redmon, manager of the port’s engineering-construction department. Redmon is a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve and has recently returned from his third tour of duty in the Middle East.

After a moment of silence, retired Harbor Police Sergeant Bob McKnight played the hymm Amazing Grace on bagpipes.

Port of San Diego employees have paused in remembrance every September since the September 11, 2001 attacks to pay tribute to the victims and emergency responders who perished a decade ago.

The Port of San Diego has more than 500 employees, including 128 sworn Harbor Police officers.

The Harbor Police, the port’s law enforcement arm, patrol San Diego Bay and the land surrounding the bay in the port’s member cities of San Diego, Coronado, Chula Vista, National City and Imperial Beach.

The Harbor Police work closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs & Border Protection and other agencies to provide homeland security for San Diego Harbor. They also provide police service at San Diego International Airport.