At dusk on the evening of Sept. 11, a candlelit ceremony was held at Vashon Island Fire & Rescue’s Station 55, in front of VIFR’s 9/11 memorial, to commemorate the losses that occurred in the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001.

The memorial is constructed of several pieces of columnar basalt from the Columbia River Basin, one of which holds a steel piece from the Twin Towers, a reminder of the destruction of that day.

The vigil began with the sound of bagpipes, played by islander John Dally, as Vashon new fire chief, Bill McLaughlin, Deputy Chief Fire Ben Davidson, uniformed members of VIFR and teens enrolled in the district’s Cadets program flanked the memorial.

Approximately 25 islanders attended the ceremony, holding candles.

In brief remarks, Davidson recited the mournful litany of loss: 2,977 lives ended on 9/11 in New York City, the Pentagon, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and aboard American Airlines and United Airlines flights.

These included 343 Fire Department New York (FDNY) members, 23 New York Police Department members, and 37 members of the Port Authority Police.

“Thier sacrifice reminds us of the true meaning of service,” Davidson said. “It’s not just about duty. It’s about heart. It’s about showing up when it matters most. We carry their legacy every day. Let us honor those we lost by living with purpose, by serving with passion, and never, ever forgetting.”

The service ended with the flag raised at half-staff, as Dally piped the mournful and yet stirring strains of “Amazing Grace.”

Deputy Chief Ben Davidson, speaking at Vashon Island Fire Rescue’s candlelit remembrance of 9/11. (Elizabeth Shepherd Photo)