||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE |||
Orcas Island Fire & Rescue (OIFR) will hold a ceremony on September 11, 2026, to honor the victims of the September 11th attacks and the 343 firefighters who died that day.
The ceremony will take place at Station 21, 45 Lavender Lane. Doors open at 7:15 am. The ceremony begins at 7:28 am outside the front entrance.
The flag will be lowered to half mast to open the ceremony. Speakers will follow, including Lieutenant Ted McKey. Lt. McKey drove across the country to retrieve a steel beam from the World Trade Center. The beam now resides in the station’s front lobby.
The ceremony will include a wreath laying, bagpipes, and the ringing of the bell signal, a traditional tribute to fallen firefighters.
Three hundred forty-three flags will be displayed on the front lawn, one for each firefighter lost on 9/11.
The public is welcome to attend. Flowers may be left at the memorial. The station’s meeting room will remain open for the rest of the day for community members who wish to visit.
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