The City of Sanford, in partnership with Seminole County, invited residents, first responders, and community members to gather for a Patriot Day 25th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
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Part of the ceremony included a special joint proclamation to honor a Sanford native who died in the attacks that day.
Sanford’s website writes of Mannie Leroy Clark (May 16, 1947 – September 11, 2001):
“Mannie served as a security supervisor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. He was working in his office on the 93rd floor when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the tower. Mannie was among the nearly 3,000 lives tragically lost that day, and his name is forever memorialized at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.”
WDBO was there as Mayor Art Woodruff and Seminole County Chairman Andria Herr presented the proclamation to the Clark family to honor Mannie’s memory, heroism, and enduring connection to Sanford.
The ceremony also featured keynote speaker Arnie Amoros, a retired New York City Police Department lieutenant and current Seminole County Sheriff’s Office volunteer.
Sanford’s website explains, “Following the attacks in 2001, Amoros returned to New York City to assist his former department. He was joined by a deployed crew of seven Seminole County deputies and a K9 team, remaining at Ground Zero for a month to help manage temporary headquarters operations and coordinate arriving law enforcement personnel.”
The presentation also included a moment of silence and a memorial bell ceremony.
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