SOUTH PASADENA, Fla. - The City of South Pasadena is inviting Tampa Bay Area residents to attend a tribute service for those who died during terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and all others who have fallen in the war on terrorism.
Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Fred Edwards said, "It's an honor to chair South Pasadena's first annual Patriot Day event. Each of us who attends will have the opportunity to honor military veterans past and present, firefighters, police officers and all other deserving patriots."
The ceremony will start at 8:30 a.m. in front of South Pasadena's City Hall at 7047 Sunset Drive South. It will pause for a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. to mark the first airplane that crashed into the World Trade Center. Immediately afterwards, the uniformed honor guard of the Veterans Liaison Council of Pinellas County will fire three volleys and play taps. The national flag will be lowered by representatives of the Pinellas County Fire Chiefs Association and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department.
The keynote speaker will be Congressman C.W. Bill Young, who represents the 10th U.S. Congressional District. Preceding him will be short speeches by numerous dignitaries, including the Congressman's wife, Beverly Young.
Receiving special honor will be representatives of the 53rd Support Battalion of the Florida National Guard who have recently returned from a combat deployment in Afghanistan.
There will be an airplane flyover showing the Red, White, and Blue colors. Commemorative gifts will be given to the first 300 to attend.
After the ceremonies, all guests will be invited inside City Hall for refreshments.
At 9:59 a.m. all Pinellas County Fire Departments will have siren and bell activity to commemorate the time the South World Trade Center Tower collapsed.
A Patriotic Exhibit and showings of films commemorating the 9/11 attacks will be shown in City Hall, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 8, 9, 10, and 11.
On September 11, 2001 the United States was attacked by terrorists who hijacked four airplanes and crashed two into the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and one intended for the U.S. Capitol was heroically crashed in Pennsylvania by true "Patriots" who loved and zealously supported their country.
By joint resolution, on December 18, 2001, the Congress of the United States designated September 11th as "Patriot Day." On this day all Americans are asked to fly their flags at half-mast and observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. commemorating the first attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.