South Florida Sun Sentinel
Sep 10, 2021 12:32 PM
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Commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11, cities across South Florida are honoring and remembering the victims and heroes in the terrorist attacks.
The community is invited by cities, police departments and organizations to come together at ceremonies, exhibits and other activities in Broward and Palm Beach counties. This list will be updated as more events are announced.
Boynton Beach Police Department Capt. Paul Deale, who is from New York originally, speaks about his experiences on 9/11 during the city of Boynton Beach 9/11 ceremony at Veterans Park in Boynton Beach in 2018. (Amy Beth Bennett/Sun Sentinel)
The city of Boynton Beach will commemorate 9/11 at The Amphitheater at Centennial Park in Downtown Boynton, 120 E. Ocean Ave., for its Remembrance Ceremony from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11.
Coral Springs/Parkland Fire and Rescue ladder truck raise a flag before the 9/11 memorial service in Coral Springs in 2018. (Joe Cavaretta / South Sun Sentinel)
Continuing its tradition of honoring the victims of 9/11, the city of Coral Springs will have its annual ceremony at the Northwest Regional Library, 3151 N. University Drive, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. The ceremony will feature a pathway of remembrance flags, performances by the Coral Springs Charter School Band and Coral Springs Fire Department Pipes and Drums along with messages from a variety of speakers. A wreath will also be placed at the monument for those who wish to visit during the weekend. In addition, the Sea of Flags will be on display at the Great Lawn of City Hall, 9500 W Sample Road.
Nova Southeastern University students, faculty and staff, including ROTC members; town of Davie Police and Fire Honor and Color Guards; mounted police units; members of the U.S. Armed Forces, first responders, veterans and members of the South Florida community will participate in a ceremony to honor the 20th anniversary of 9/11 at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 at Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus, 3301 College Ave. (in front of the Horvitz Administration Building, adjacent to College Ave.) The event will feature a parade of town of Davie Fire Rescue and Police (including motorcycle and mounted units), honor and color guards, dignitaries and guest speakers, veterans and military and first-responder vehicles and military fly-overs, including a Vietnam War-era helicopter that is scheduled to land on-site. Free.
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens will have a free online activity honoring the victims of 9/11 at noon Saturday, Sept. 11. Participants can learn to create their own Japanese paper cranes, or orizuru, through the museum’s “Virtual Family Fun: Orizuru for Peace” event. Visit morikami.org/event/family-fun-day/.
The Human Baton, a high-energy relay race with multiple stages over land, sea, air, and online, is coming to Fort Lauderdale for 9/11. (Human Baton/Courtesy)
In partnership with The Human Baton, the Veterans Trust will have its free “Tribute to America’s Heroes” event at Las Olas Oceanside Park, 300 E. Las Olas Blvd., from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. Representing law enforcement, fire department, military and local patriots, four teams will participate in Human Baton — a course of skydiving onto Fort Lauderdale Beach, drifting around Seabreeze Boulevard loop, showing off in a GT Sports Car on State Road A1A, navigating the surf on Thundercat boats and a foot race up the beach to the finish line. The park will feature a family-friendly kid zone, video game trucks and simulators, a pop-up food village and an opportunity for attendees to learn about the military and first- responders. A VIP village is available with cocktails. All net proceeds will be distributed by The Veterans Trust to eight local nonprofits. Funds will support initiatives focused on employment, education, education and veteran programs. Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to register at theveteranstrust.org/911-tribute/.
The Human Baton exhibition drift car drivers practice at Pompano Beach Airpark on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021. The drivers will perform during the Human Baton Tribute to America’s Heroes event on Sept. 11 at Las Olas Oceanside Park. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Riverwalk and the city of Fort Lauderdale are teaming to host a “9/11 Remembrance Ceremony” at the Riverwalk 9/11 Monument on the north side of the New River near Southwest First Avenue and Las Olas Boulevard at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. The Riverwalk 9/11 Monument features a rail segment from the tracks of the Port Authority Trans-Hudson rapid transit station that was located at the World Trade Center. The monument displays the rail in an uplifted position supported by granite pillars, symbolizing the solid bedrock of Manhattan that supports its massive buildings.
The Tyrone Bryant Branch Library, 2230 NW 21st Ave., will display a month-long passive program and poster exhibition titled “The Day That Changed the World” throughout September.
The Margate-Coconut Creek Fire-Rescue Department and the Margate Police Department will have an annual Patriot Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. at Firefighters Park, 2500 Rock Island Road. City officials will join in commemorating all fallen firefighters and police officers — heroes who died in the line of duty. The ceremony is free and open to everyone. Face masks and social distancing are encouraged. Call 954-971-7010.
The city of Miramar and Mayor Wayne M. Messam will have a dedication ceremony at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 at Miramar Regional Park, 16801 Miramar Parkway, for a new monument being erected to honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The monument will be made of two broken beams secured by the city from Ground Zero. To RSVP, visit eventbrite.com/e/911-memorial-site-dedication-tickets-163573248991.
An “Always Remember 9/11 Memorial Ceremony” will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 9 at City Hall, 701 SW 71st Ave. Then the city of North Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department will have its “9/11 Remembrance 5K Run/Walk” at Hampton Pines Park, 7800 Hampton Blvd., on Saturday, Sept. 11. The gates will open for registration at 7 a.m., while the race starts at 8 a.m. The first 100 people to register on the day of the event will receive free shirts. Visit nlauderdale.org/news_detail_T6_R142.php. Call 954-724-7061.
The Parkland Library Book Club will discuss “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 18 at the library, 6620 University Drive. A viewing of the film starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock will follow from 2 to 4 p.m. A Parkland Library card is required to register at cityofparkland.org/library or call 954-757-4214.
Members of the Police and Fire Honor Guard present the colors during the moment of silence before the unveiling of the 9/11 memorial ceremony at Pembroke Pines City Center in 2011. (Sun Sentinel File Photo)
The city of Pembroke Pines invites residents to attend its “9/11 Ceremony” at Memorial Park, 10601 SW City Center Blvd., from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. Beginning with the Presentation of Colors by the city of Pembroke Pines Police and Fire Department Honor Guards, the event will include guest speakers, community leaders and patriotic music from school bands and musicians. Residents are also encouraged to visit the statues that are part of the park and meet the artist. The observance will be live-streamed on the city’s Facebook page. Visit ppines.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1315.
In collaboration with Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Pompano Beach Historical Society, the city of Pompano Beach Parks and Recreation Department will have a virtual morning of remembrance at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. The free “A Day for Honoring Our Heroes” ceremony will be highlighted by guest speakers, musicians and a performance by the Fort Lauderdale Symphonic Winds. The event will be accessible to view on the city’s YouTube (youtube.com/user/PompanoEvents), pompanobeachfl.gov, Facebook and Ch. 78. Call 954-786-4111 or visit parks.pompanobeachfl.gov.
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Join the city of Sunrise in honoring the victims, heroes and survivors of 9/11 at an outdoor ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 at the Sunrise Civic Center Amphitheater, 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd., featuring speakers, music, a memorial display and the presentation of colors. Call 954-747-4600.
James Holmes, of Wellington, reads the plaque that describes the origins of one of the largest steel beams recovered from the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks and is now displayed at Wellington’s Patriot Memorial. (Lee Hershfield / Sun Sentinel)
The village will honor the victims of 9/11 with a remembrance ceremony at Patriot Memorial, 12198 Forest Hill Blvd., at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. Located next to Village Hall, the Village Council will share its thoughts and lay a memorial wreath for those lost and affected by the attacks. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue will also be in attendance as a form of solidarity for those lost and affected by the events of 9/11. Call Chris Macfarlane at 561-753-2422 for sponsor opportunities, as well as personalized brick pavers.
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts will have a one-day community drive, “Let’s Do Good Together!,” to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and inspired by the “Pay It Forward” campaign associated with the Broadway hit musical “Come From Away” that is coming to the Kravis Center Nov. 16-21. To participate, bring donated items to the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10 in front of the Cohen Pavilion. Visit Kravis.org/communitydrive. All donated items must be unused and unopened, and will be earmarked for three nonprofit organizations:
- Vita Nova, which works to eliminate homelessness for youth ages 18 to 25 in Palm Beach County. Requested items include bottled water, men/women’s underwear and socks, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, toothpaste or toothbrushes, deodorant, lotion, sunscreen, shelf-stable food—canned/dry goods, full-size bedding, arts supplies and canvases of all size.
- Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League – requested items include cat food (dry/wet), dog foot (dry/wet), litter, and training pads of all sizes.
- Palm Beach County Food Bank – requested items include rice, pasta, canned and dry soup, shelf-stable milk, canned fruits, peanut butter, canned meat (tuna, chicken, salmon), canned tomato products (sauce or diced), canned vegetables, beans (dried or canned), oatmeal, cereal, and mac & cheese.
From an education exhibition to a day of remembrance, the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, 411 Clematis St., will have two free, month-long events throughout September. Participants can take a step back in time and view a detailed history of 9/11 with the library’s “The Day The Changed the World.” Attendees will be able to hear about its origins, ongoing implications through personal stories of those who witnessed and survived the attacks. Featuring 14 posters, the exhibition includes archival photographs and images of artifacts from the museum’s permanent collection. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to share their memories by filling out a form that will be included in the library’s remembrance display on the first floor. They may also fill out a Remembrance Ribbon for loved ones who lost their lives in the attacks. Visit wpbcitylibrary.org.
