- October 5, 2026
About 200 people attended the Palm Coast Elks Lodge's 9/11 Memorial Ceremony on the morning of Friday, Sept. 11.
Master of Ceremonies Jerry DiMenna, a retired U.S. Marine major and former NCIS special agent, commenced the ceremony by introducing the Coastal Florida Police and Fire Pipes and Drums, which performed “God Bless America.”
The joint-agency color guard, consisted of representatives from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Marine Corps League and American Legion. A flag presentation recognized the organizations that responded to the World Trade Center terrorist attack with members of each agency standing in recognition.
Following the national anthem, Lodge Chaplain George Hanns, a former U.S. Army serviceman, delivered an invocation written by former Lodge Chaplain Gail Vandeventer DiMenna. The invocation referenced the lodge’s World Trade Center memorial.
“Let this ceremony show to the forces of evil that we, as a country, like our lodge memorial of World Trade Center steel, may be bent, but cannot be broken,” Hanns stated.
Lodge Exalted Ruler Pete Lehnertz, a former U.S. Navy serviceman, welcomed VIPs in attendance. Speakers included Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill, retired Elizabeth, New Jersey, Deputy Fire Chief Whitney Merrill and Lodge Secretary and Past Exalted Ruler Jerry O’Gara, a retired New York City Department of Correction warden.
Sheriff Staly and Chief Berryhill spoke of the sacrifices made by police officers, first responders and members of the military as well as the need for America to remain ever vigilant.
Merrill spoke of how his airplane was forced to land on 9/11 and his subsequent effort to return from the Midwest so he could respond to the World Trade Center tragedy.
O’Gara spoke about the largely unknown but critical role the Department of Correction played in the rescue and recovery efforts.
DiMenna spoke about being hired by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as the Port Authority Trans-Hudson train system security director 14 years after 9/11 and his mandate to supervise the completion of the multi-billion-dollar PATH security technology and infrastructure project which included the World Trade Center Transportation Hub. It was a project that took him into the bowels of the remains of the original World Trade Center, an experience that he described as eerie, surreal and melancholy and one that gave him great respect for those who sacrificed and risked their lives on 9/11 and afterwards.
All those in attendance at the ceremony who had been involved in the response, rescue, and recovery efforts were recognized and received a rousing ovation.
A Palm Coast Elks Lodge wreath ceremony, with agency wreaths presented in memory of the fallen, took place in front of a table displaying World Trade Center artifacts positioned beneath the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey World Trade Center Memorial Flag.
Prior to the presentation of the final wreath, honoring the Fire Department of the City of New York, Merrill recited the history of the “Tolling of the Five Bells.” Retired New York City firefighter and U.S. Marine veteran Tom Coleman tolled the fire department bell.
The Coastal Florida Police and Fire Pipes and Drums performed “Amazing Grace.” The lodge’s Past Exalted Ruler, Jerry Dickens Sr., told the history of the lodge’s 9/11 memorial, which contains sections of World Trade Center steel from both the North and South Towers. He explained how lodge members, many of whom had responded to 9/11, obtained the steel and constructed the monument.
Hanns delivered the benediction, utilizing an excerpt from Pope Benedict XVI’s prayer at Ground Zero. The ceremony concluded when lodge soloist Gail Vandeventer DiMenna sang her rendition of “God Bless America,” which was joined in by those in attendance. Many sang with tears in their eyes.
Finally, guests proceeded outside to the lodge monument to place flowers and share a moment of reflection.
