Remembering 9/11 on the 20th Anniversary: How and Where to Commemorate

REMEMBERING 9/11 ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY: HOW AND WHERE TO CELEBRATE

Tomorrow, September 11^th, holds a heavy place in the hearts of America. Now more than ever it is important to come together and remember who we lost and the fighting American spirit. The following are SWFL events to commemorate the 20^th anniversary of September 11^th:

• 7:30 am 9/11 Ride for Responders Naples
  • Two Naples rides will be held to honor first responders and benefit the nonprofit Brotherhood Ride. Bicyclists will meet at 7:30 a.m. at Fit & Fuel Café, 819 Vanderbilt Beach Road, and leave at 8 a.m. for a 50-mile ride. Then car drivers meet up at 9 a.m. at the Accanito Garage, 3573 Enterprise Ave., for coffee and doughnuts and then drive to Fit & Fuel Café, where they’ll cheer on the cyclists when they arrive at about 10:45 am
  • Riders can register for free at com/ride-for-responders-sign-up.
• 8:00 am Patriot Day event Frank E Mackle Community Park Marco Island
  • A ceremony recognizing military members, first responders and civilians who died during 9/11, along with military and first responders who continue to work to keep everyone safe. Organized by the Marco Island Fire Rescue Foundation and the Marco Island Police Foundation. 8 a.m. Airnasium at Frank E. Mackle Community Park, 1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco Island
• 8:30 am ceremony at Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers
  • Join first responders and public officials for an approximately 90-minute ceremony. Several agencies and groups will take part, including fire, public safety, and airlines. The ceremony includes a national colors presentation, patriotic music and the reading of the names of people who lost their lives in the line of duty. Brief comments will be made by elected officials.
• 8:30 am ceremony with fire and police departments on the lawn outside City Hall Council Chambers in Cape Coral
  • The City of Cape Coral marks the occasion with a presentation of colors by honor guards from the city’s fire and police departments and also remarks from Mayor John Gunter, Police Chief Tony Sizemore and Fire Chief Ryan Lamb. Attendees will stake 2,977 U.S. flags, each with a name of a victim of the 9/11 attacks, in the front lawn of City Hall to honor their memory and affirm that “We Will Never Forget.”
• 8:30 am Ride to Remember – Cape Coral & Naples meeting in south Fort Myers
  • A memorial motorcycle ride with meet-up points in Cape Coral and Naples and the destination of Stu’s Motorcycles in south Fort Myers. Riders will meet at 8:30 a.m. at either the Iwo Jima Memorial at Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve, 2101 S.E. 23rd Terrace, Cape Coral; or at Freedom Park, 1515 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples. The main event at Stu’s is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a motorcycle giveaway, free food, rock group The Chopper Band and live broadcasts from 96K-Rock radio personalities.
• 11 am Remembrance Ceremony at IMAG History & Science Center Fort Myers
  • A stone sculpture from St. James City artist Sandra Priest of Project 911UP will be dedicated. The event also includes guest speakers and a 9/11 memorial display. Priest made the sculpture from a piece of slurry wall salvaged from Ground Zero at the World Trade Center.
• 11 am “Celebration of the American Spirit” at the Shell Factory North Fort Myers
  • Celebrate America’s first responders and the people who died during the 9/11 attacks. This event includes a remembrance ceremony at 12:16 p.m. (the time the last civilian or commercial plane in U.S. airspace landed on 9/11), a helicopter flyover, taps performed by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, the touring museum bus from the Southwest Florida Military Museum, the Pure Country Band, NBC news anchor Peter Busch and more.
• 3 pm American Legion Memorial Service Cape Coral
  • American Legion Post 90 hosts a memorial remembrance service with an honor guard, a 21-gun salute and a free dinner afterward for everyone who attends. 3 p.m. American Legion Post 90, 1401 S.E. 47th St, Cape Coral. org
• 4 pm Never Forget Fest Cape Coral
  • Memorial Bike Night event to salute to fallen heroes begins at 4 p.m. at Ralph’s Place, 1305 Cape Coral Parkway E. Live music, vendors and more, with Bad Latitude performing from 6-9 p.m. and Delta Crossing from 9-midnight. com
• 6:30 pm candlelight remembrance with luminaries at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in Naples
  • This brief ceremony starts with a flyover by Air Force veteran and pilot Maj. Jessica Sterns and an invocation/prayer. Then participants have about 90 minutes for a candlelight remembrance. Complimentary white luminaries (which can be personalized) and flameless “candles” will be provided to place around the memorial.

You can read more about these events on News-Press