Lagunans gather around ‘Semper Memento’ to remember victims of 9/11

Laguna Beach public safety officials, miliary veterans and residents gathered in Heisler Park on Friday to remember the victims, including first responders, of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on U.S. soil 14 years ago.

About 50 people surrounded artist Jorg Dubin’s sculpture “Semper Memento” at 8:45 a.m. as Laguna Beach joined other fire agencies in the county in reflection, with an accompanying bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

The time coincides to the first plane striking the World Trade Center in New York City.

The sculpture, whose name translates to “Always Remember,” contains two steel beams from the trade center ruins resting atop a concrete base in the shape of the Pentagon, with a grass area in the middle.

The three components represent the areas in New York, Virginia and Shanksville, Pa., where four planes crashed on Sept. 11, 2001.

“Semper Memento” also includes a sphere that “represents the world, as this was a world-changing event,” Dubin said in a written statement. Laguna resident Mark Porterfield funded the sculpture, dedicated in 2011.

“That event changed the way law enforcement does its job,” Laguna Police Chief Laura Farinella said. “We didn’t have to protect the ports until [after Sept. 11]. All of us need to be communicating about everything we see and do. We need the help of citizens who see something to say something.”

Laguna Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse, who organized the event, reminded the public of the attacks’ toll as he read a letter from Patrick Foye, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

“Many throughout the country are unaware of the health impacts still faced by thousands of responders and survivors” throughout the country, Foye wrote.

According to the Port Authority, more than 33,000 responders and survivors have at least one injury or illness related to the attacks, while 22,000 of those people have two or more. An additional 3,700 responders and survivors developed cancer following the incidents.

“There are victims who suffer effects [from the attacks] each and every day,” LaTendresse said. “We need to keep these people in our thoughts and prayers.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established the World Trade Center Health Program to treat and monitor first responders in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania and survivors in the New York City area.

Richard Moore, commander of American Legion Post 222 in Laguna Beach, said the day has become a symbol of unity that crosses political party lines.

Among red states and blue states, “It’s nice to come together as all red, white and blue,” said Moore, an Air Force flier during the Vietnam War. “United we stand; divided we fall.”