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–>–The ceremony took place in front of the Pershing-Lafayette monument in Versailles (Yvelines). (©SDIS78)
The ceremony was musically enlivened by members of the Normandy Highland Pipes Band, who played the “Amazing Grace” bagpipes. Two wreaths of flowers were placed during the ceremony in tribute to the victims.
At 2:46 p.m. French time
At 2:46 p.m. sharp, 8:46 a.m. in New York, a minute of silence was observed. 8:46 a.m., on September 11, 2001, the first plane had struck the World Trade Center tower!
“My heart is in New York”
Sébastien Frémont, vice-president of the FDNY-SP78 Association thanked the participants for being present for this very special ceremony which has never been done in France. “It is very important to me to be here today so that we can collect our thoughts,” he said.
In this particular context, members of the association were unable to travel to New York for the annual ceremonies, a first since 2002.
Usually at this time of day, we are at Ground Zero in New York, today I am here, but my heart is in New York, ”explained Sébastien Frémont.
Mr Toner, who was participating for the first time in this ceremony in Versailles, thanked the participants present.
343 FDNY firefighters perished during the collapse of the World Trade Center twin towers, to which are added 226 additional firefighters who died, even today, as a result of diseases contracted during weeks and months of clearing the ruins of the Ground Zero site.
Clara De Frutos
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