Key West honored the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks with a unique tribute in a special place — nearly 100 feet underwater on the deck of the Vandenberg.
The 522-foot-long World War II ship was intentionally sunk as an artificial reef in 2009 off Key West, and has since become a popular dive site and marine habitat.
The Vandenberg is now home to a sculpture made by artist Sandra Priest, whose 9/11 Up project places sculptures made from remnants of the World Trade Center in locations around the country. Another sculpture resides at the Key West Firehouse Museum.
A father-son pair of naval officers and divers, Bond Henry and Cameron Henry, helped orchestrate the Vandenberg tribute that included a flyover by Navy helicopter and the unfurling of a giant American flag that is now secured to the wreck.
Photographer Scott Belt procured the 30-by-40-foot flag and photographed the ceremony from above and below the surface.
“This thing took on a life of its own. Everyone was eager to help however they could and be a part of this,” said Capt. Joe Weatherby, who spearheaded the sinking of the Vandenberg in 2009 and initially conceived the 20th anniversary tribute.
Dozens of divers from local dive boats descended on the wreck the morning of Sept. 11 to witness the American flag draping a legendary military ship and visit the new sculptures.
Father-son dive buddies Bond and Cameron Henry secure a giant American flag to the Vandenberg in honor of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Both naval officers, the pair helped orchestrate the tribute dive and a navy flyover above the wreck. SCOTT BELT/Contributed 
A diver on the Vandenberg wreck photographs the new sculptures by artist Sandra Priest, who created her 9/11 Up project from remnants of the World Trade Center. SCOTT BELT/Contributed 
Naval officer Cameron Henry of Jacksonville secures an American flag to the Vandenberg on Sept. 11. SCOTT BELT/Contributed 
Bond Henry, Cody Frank and Cameron Henry prepare to unfurl the giant American flag that is now attached to the Vandenberg, a former military ship that was sunk as an artificial reef off Key West. SCOTT BELT/Contributed 
Navy commander Bond Henry and diver Cody Frank join the underwater 9/11 tribute on the Vandenberg wreck off Key West on Sept. 11. SCOTT BELT/Contributed 
A diver on the Vandenberg wreck checks out an underwater 9/11 sculpture, made from remnants of the World Trade Center, that now resides on the deck of the former military ship. SCOTT BELT/Contributed
