Firefighters mark 9-11 anniversary Firefighters mark 9-11 anniversary (September 15, 2004)

A 9-11 remembrance ceremony was held at the Menlo Park Fire Protection District headquarters last Friday morning.

The Menlo Park-based Urban Search and Rescue Team, led by Division head Harold Schapelhouman, had participated in recovery operations at the World Trade Center site after 9-11.

"It's hard for me to believe that, three years later, the effects are still being felt," Schapelhouman said.

Fire District Chaplain Dominic Peloso call 9-11 "a day of great evil and darkness," and prayed to "bring light into this darkness."

The 40-minute ceremony started with a group rendition of "America the Beautiful" and closed with a bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace."

A wreath in memory of those who died on 9-11 was placed by the flagpole outside the district headquarters, and Firefighter Ken Steele rang the district's Remembrance Bell, three sets of three rings, the final alarm for fallen firefighters. --Don Kazak

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