GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The community is invited to gather in remembrance and reflection of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Friday, Sept. 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the Spring Park gazebo.

It will be a joint effort between Clay County Fire Rescue, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and other Clay County agencies.

Local first responders from agencies across the area will participate in an Honor March through downtown Green Cove Springs, which will end at the ceremony. 

Residents can view the march along Palmetto Avenue and Walnut Street. The march will start at 9:15 a.m. and end at the ceremony in Spring Park.

The march will process down Walnut Street with a flag hung on a Clay County Fire Rescue truck in the background.

There will be chairs set up at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, but the public is welcome to bring their own. During the ceremony, local, state and federal officials will read the names of the more than 400 firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency responders who made the ultimate sacrifice on that day 25 years ago.

Then the Clay County Fire Rescue Honor Guard will strike the Four Fives – a historic New York Fire Service tradition used to honor a line-of-duty death that started in the 1800s. The signal was initially used to broadcast major historical tragedies. Today, the bell tolls during memorial services and anniversary tributes to signify a job well done and a firefighter’s final alarm. A local bagpipe group will play “Amazing Grace” to conclude the ceremony.

The county is also asking former FDNY or NYPD members who would like to participate in the Honor March to email askclay@claycountygov.com.