Leatherback sea turtle nesting season begins in SanibelA warmer Thursday start with stray showers this afternoon
Saturday, September 11, 2021, marks 20 years since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Flight 93, and the Pentagon. Below is a list of events being held across Southwest Florida to commemorate the day and remember those who lost their lives and their families. LEE COUNTY 8:30 a.m. Fort Myers- 20th anniversary 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Where: Caloosa Sound Convention Center, 1374 Monroe St. The Southwest Florida community is invited to join first responders and public officials at 8:30 a.m. in downtown Fort Myers for a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony that will mark the 20th year since the terrorist attack. The event will be at It’s free and open to the public. Doors will open at 7:45 a.m. An array of agencies and organizations – including law enforcement, fire, public safety and airlines – will conduct the ceremony, which is expected to last about 90 minutes. The remembrance ceremony includes a national colors presentation, patriotic music, and the reading of names of those who lost their lives in the line of duty. Brief comments from officials will be made, including Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson, Fort Myers Councilman Johnny Streets, Lee County Commission Chairman Kevin Ruane and Florida State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka. 8:30 a.m. Cape Coral – 20th Anniversary of 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Where: Front lawn outside of City Hall Council Chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. The Cape Coral Fire Department along with the City of Cape Coral and Cape Coral Police Department will host the remembrance ceremony. The ceremony will include: The presentation of colors by the Cape Coral Fire and Police Honor Guards A moment of silence An invocation Remarks from Mayor John Gunter, Police Chief Tony Sizemore, and Fire Chief Ryan Lamb The ceremony will end with attendees staking 2,977 American flags, each with a name of a victim of the attacks, in the front lawn of City Hall to honor their memory and reaffirming that “We Will Never Forget.” The ceremony will also be broadcast on CapeTV and Facebook Live on the Cape Coral Fire Department page @CapeCoralFD. 10:00 a.m. Bonita Springs – 20th Anniversary of September 11 Ceremony Where: Fire Station One, 27490 Old US-41 Road The Bonita Springs Fire District invites you to join them as they commemorate Patriots’ Day on the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001. The ceremony starts at 10 a.m, followed by an open house at Bonita Springs Fire Station One. For more information click here. 11:00 a.m. North Fort Myers – Shell Factory & Nature Park Holding 9/11 Remembrance Event What: The Shell Factory and Nature Park, 16554 N. Cleveland Avenue A Celebration of the American Spirit in remembrance of the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The event will start at 11:00 a.m. with a remembrance ceremony beginning at 12:16 p.m., the exact time air traffic was grounded in the U.S. As 2021 is the 20th anniversary of the terrorist hijackings of American Airlines flights 11 and 77, United Airlines flights 93 and 175, and the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and Pentagon in Washington, DC, the Shell Factory and Nature Park wanted to emphasize their continued support of law enforcement and first responders with this day of ceremonies and to honor those and the family members of those who lost their lives that day. Special appearances include: the Lee County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad division, the LCSO Honor Guard performing TAPS, Cape Coral Fire Department fire trucks, the Patriot Riders of America motorcycle club, the Hero Jeep, the Military Museum Bus, and live music from the Pure Country Band. If you or someone you know was directly impacted by the events of September 11, 2001 and would like to attend the event, please contact Mary or Ashley at the Shell Factory and Nature Park at 239-995-2141 ext. 110 or email mary.shellfactory@gmail.com. The Shell Factory and Nature Park thanks Bruce L. Scheiner for sponsoring the event. COLLIER COUNTY Beginning Sept. 8 Field of Flags Where: 333 8th Street South. They were fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, and friends. 20 years ago on Saturday, 2,977 people perished in the terrorist attack on 9/11. WINK News’ sister station Fox News Radio 92.5 is placing flags in a field to represent each of the souls lost that tragic day. The field is in Old Town Naples at 333 8th Street South. 8:00 a.m. Marco Island – 20th anniversary of September 11th ceremony Where: Mackle Park “Airnasium”, 1361 Andalusia Terrace This event is hosted by the Marco Island Fire Rescue and Police Foundations. 11:00 a.m. Naples – Prayer at the Collier County Freedom Memorial Where: Freedom Park, 1515 Golden Gate Parkway 11:00 a.m. Naples – 9/11 “Riding to Remember” Where: Freedom Park, 1515 Golden Gate Pkwy Everyone attending will receive an American Flag presented by The Fallen Officers. Meet by 8:00 a.m. | Kick Stands Up and Ride to begin at 10:30 a.m. following the ceremony and heading to Stu’s Motorcycles. 8:30 a.m. Presenting Of The Colors. National Anthem. Pledge Of Allegiance. Invocation by Father Michael Orsi. Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, Naples Mayor Teresa Heitman, Collier County Commissioner 1 Rick LoCastro. Then there will be an open mic for anyone to say a few words about what 911 means to them, honor a loved one or where you were when the world stopped 20 years ago. We will observe a moment of silence for each of the following times that occurred on 9-11-2001. 3:30 p.m. Naples – 9/11 Memorial Mass Where: St. Peter’s R.C. Church, 5130 Rattlesnake Hammock Road 6:30 p.m. Candlelight Observance Where: Freedom Memorial at Freedom Park, 1515 Golden Gate Pkwy CHARLOTTE COUNTY [CANCELED] Port Charlotte – Charlotte County Schedules 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Where: Veterans Memorial Park, 20499 Edgewater Drive in Port Charlotte “Out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with public safety officials and first responder partner agencies, we determined the current surge in COVID-19 cases warrants postponing this event,” said Charlotte County Administrator Hector Flores. “The tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001 are forever etched in our minds and I join with my colleagues in remembrance of those we lost that day and solidarity with those who still suffer physical and emotional pain two decades later.” 10:00 a.m. Punta Gorda – Military Heritage Museum Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremony Where: 900 West Marion Avenue The museum will host an all-day commemorative event on from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to pay special tribute to all first responders for their service. The fateful day that changed the lives of every American will be indelibly etched in our minds, and it brought Americans from every walk of life together as a nation, as we grieved the tragic events that happened that day in 2001. Highlights of the September 11 twentieth anniversary Remembrance Ceremony will include a first-hand testimonial from those who were there, and comments from the leadership of our local police, fire and sheriff departments. For more information or reservations, please go to the website and sign up at militaryheritagemuseum.org or call 941-575-9002. 9/11 Blue Mass 8 a.m., Friday, Sept. 10 St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church 1441 Spear St., Port Charlotte 9/11 Commemoration 9:30 a.m. Sept. 11 Englewood Freedom Pavilion and Veterans Memorial 641 W. Dearborn St., Englewood Patriot Day 9/11 Commemoration 11 a.m., Sept. 11 American Legion Post 110 3152 Harbor Blvd., Port Charlotte 9/11 Ceremony 11 a.m., Sept. 11 Veterans Memorial Park 3436 Indiana Road, Rotonda West 9/11 Flag Ceremony 12 p.m., Sept. 11 Englewood AmVets Post 777 3386 N. Access Road, Englewood DESOTO COUNTY 9 a.m. Arcadia – DeSoto Fire and Rescue Remembrance Ceremony Where: In front of DeSoto County Courthouse, 115 E Oak St, Arcadia