9/11 Wreathlaying Ceremony

Staff and supporters of the NLEOMF gathered at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial early Thursday morning to remember and honor the 72 law enforcement officers who died during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001—the deadliest day in U.S. law enforcement history.

With cool, clear skies overhead, staff read a roll call of the names of all 72 officers who were killed that day—71 at the World Trade Center in New York City and one, Richard Guadagno, of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, who is believed to be among the heroes who commandeered United Flight 93 from the terrorists, forcing it to crash in Shanksville, PA, before it could reach its intended target and claim many more lives.

Staff then placed a memorial wreath behind Panels 9W through 22W of the Memorial, where the names of the 72 officers are proudly engraved on Line 23. As participants paused to reflect on the sacrifice of the law enforcement that day, Berneta Spence, NLEOMF Director of Research, and Lynn Lyons-Wynne, Senior Director for Memorial Programs, talked about some of the stories behind the names.

As the brief ceremony came to a conclusion, Chaplain David Duffany of Prince George’s County (MD) stepped forward to salute each of the panels adorned with a rose. Just then, the sound of bagpipes could be heard from the 9-11 remembrance ceremony at the nearby Washington Field Office of the FBI.