When And Where Is Ocean City's 9/11 Anniversary Ceremony?

Ocean City, NJ -- Ocean City’s 9/11 anniversary ceremony takes place on Sunday, Sept. 11, 6 p.m. in front of the Ocean City Fire Department at 550 Asbury Avenue, city officials said on Tuesday.

The ceremony will begin with a fire service tradition that dates back to the mid-1800s.

Long before there were radios or pagers, fire alarms and daily announcements were sent from headquarters to firehouses by a system of bell commands and telegraph.

When a firefighter died in the line of duty, headquarters would transmit five bell strikes, repeated in a series of four. It is a form of rendering final honors to a departed comrade, known as striking of the four fives.

Joyce, Chelsea and Devon Rodak will honor their husband and father, John Rodak, during the keynote address.

Pastor Steve Donat of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church will give the Benedication, and “God Bless America” will be sung by Julia Mary Wilson.

The program will also include:

• Presentation of Colors by Ocean City Boy Scout Troop 32;
• Flag Salute led by Jim Sambucci, American Legion Post 524 commander;
• The National Anthem sung by the St. Augustine’s A Capella Chorus directed by Matt Wolfe;
• Invocation by Rev. John Jamieson, Ocean City Fire Department Chaplain;
• Welcome by Mayor Jay A. Gillian; and
• The Laying of Wreath by members of Ocean City Police and Fire departments.