Town Hosts Annual Remembrance Events

📰98 Points of Light - Stories of Remembrance - View the dedicated publication.

🎥Watch the event recording.

**Please note the symbolic Remembrance Torch will be extinguished on Sunday, July 20 at 8 p.m.

On Tuesday, June 24, the Town of Surfside held its annual events to mark the fourth anniversary of the Champlain Towers South building collapse of June 24, 2021.

A Lighting of the Torch was held at 1:22 a.m., the exact time of the collapse, with first responders from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) including Fire Chief Ray Jadallah and Firefighter Maggie Castro who led rescue and recovery efforts. After the Remembrance Torch was lit, the names of the 98 souls were read aloud in the presence of a family members and friends who gathered for the solemn occasion.

The daytime Remembrance Ceremony included a large American Flag displayed by fire trucks which flew poignantly over across from the site in addition to a Flyover from Miami-Dade Police Aviation.

Surfside Mayor Charles W. Burkett led the ceremony on behalf of the Town and thanked all the agencies and partners who have offered support in the wake of the collapse. The program also featured Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, as well as remarks from family members of the 98 deceased, and survivors of the building. Fire Chief Ray Jadallah and members of the MDFR led the Reading of the Names.

Vice Mayor Tina Paul and Commissioners Ruben Coto and Gerardo Vildostegui were also in attendance. Community faith leaders Father Sosa of St. Joseph Catholic Parish and Rabbi Zalman Lipskar of The Shul provided the Invocation and Benediction.

The Ceremony was held on the 100 block of 88^th Street – the future site of the Memorial. The Town continues working with the Memorial Committee and project partners to finalize the design.