Lewes 9/11 memorial honors lost son, first responders
In the 18 years since Sept. 11, 2001, Roger and Carol Whitford have done whatever they could to support and honor the people who lost their lives that day.
One of those people was their son Mark, a member of Fire Department of New York's Engine 23. Mark and his crew arrived after the second plane hit, and they entered the south tower to fight the fire. They reached the 21st floor before the tower collapsed. Mark was one of 343 firefighters to lose their lives that fateful day.
This year’s ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 11, at their home, 17181 Minos Conaway Road, Lewes. The first responder community is invited. Members of Lewes Fire Department and FDNY are expected to be in attendance.
Since moving to Lewes seven years ago, Roger and Carol have held a 9/11 ceremony annually to honor those who died. In 2015, Roger and Carol, along with family and friends, launched patriotic lanterns into the sky from Lewes Beach. In 2016, they held a ceremony at a homemade memorial in the front yard of their Minos Conaway Rd. home. The tradition has continued every year since.
For 2019, the Whitfords have taken it a step farther. The front yard memorial now includes a display with water cascading from the top of twin tower rocks onto smaller rocks below. A plaque in front says the display is dedicated to the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice on that fateful day. A photo of Mark Whitford is attached to a flagpole just a few feet away.
Roger and Carol also had a brick-paver walkway built, to lead people from the driveway to the display. Benches are built along the way. Near the driveway, the Whitfords have displayed a piece of World Trade Center steel. A wooden podium at the driveway will soon display a photograph of Mark and his story.
The memorial is registered and displayed at www.911memorial.org.
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
