REMEMBERING 9/11: Cities plan 20th anniversary events

OCOEE

9/11 Memorial 

8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Withers-Maguire House, 16 E. Oakland Ave. The city of Ocoee’s Citizens Advisory Council for the Police Department will host a Memorial Event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Former New York Fire Department firefighter Jimmy Brown will be the keynote speaker. Ocoee Police Officer Duane Hunt will perform the national anthem. The city’s police and fire honor guards will present the colors, followed by a moment of silence to remember and honor the 2,977 lives lost on that day. Ocoee Police Department Chaplain Keith Tower will give the invocation. Ocoee Deputy Fire Chief Tom Smothers and Police Chief Saima Plasencia will make remarks. The city’s 9/11 Memorial, which has a piece of a steel beam salvaged from one of the World Trade Center buildings, will be on display. The event will conclude with attendees placing 2,977 American flags on the lawn of the Withers Maguire House to honor each life lost on 9/11. The Camaraderie Foundation will provide the flags. For more, contact Ocoee Police Sgt. Blake Prince at [email protected].

WINDERMERE

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony 

8:30 a.m. at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St. The town of Windermere will hold its 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony behind Town Hall at the 9/11 memorial. The event will feature music provided by Family Church, Windermere campus. Jeff Cox created the town’s Sept. 11 memorial for his Eagle Scout project; it was dedicated in February 2010. 

WINTER GARDEN

Remembrance 9/11 Tribute Exhibit 

Open Sept. 8 to 11 at Winter Garden City Hall, 300 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. This exhibit will return to the place it was unveiled 10 years ago. More than 200 pieces of memorabilia and 50 collages are arranged in a timeline spanning the attacks, investigations and memorials. There is a special area honoring all first responders and essential industries. Posters made by schoolchildren decorate walls and tables throughout the room.

APOPKA

9/11 Memorial 5K

6 a.m. at Apopka’s Northwest Recreation Complex, 3710 Jason Dwelley Parkway. The Apopka Fire Department will host a 5K run, with all donations and proceeds benefiting the memorial scholarship fund of the Armando Borjas Jr. Scholarship Foundation. Registration is from 6 to 6:45 a.m.; the opening ceremony will begin at 6:45; and race time is at 7. Register at positivevibesusa.com/run-positive-vibes.

Apopka Memorial Ceremony 

8:30 a.m. at Apopka Amphitheater, 3710 Jason Dwelley Parkway. The city of Apopka, Apopka Fire Department and Apopka Police Department will hold a 9/11 memorial at the Apopka Amphitheater in the Northwest Recreation Complex at beginning at 8:30 a.m. American civilians and fallen firefighters and law enforcement officers will be honored during this ceremony.

Apopka City Hall Memorial Ceremony

Noon at Apopka City Hall, 120 E. Main Street. The Apopka Fire Department, Apopka Police Department and the Apopka Christian Ministerial Alliance will host a service on the steps of City Hall. 

A Tribute to Heroes Concert

4 to 9 p.m. at Apopka Amphitheater. A Tribute to Heroes will honor veterans and pay special tribute to first responders from the New York City Fire Department, who will be recognized as VIP guests at the event. Proceeds will benefit the Central Florida Hope Center. The event is organized by the Central Florida Hope Center and the Armando Borjas Jr. Scholarship Foundation. LOCASH, Donny Lee, Randall Crawford, Adam Cunningham of NBC’s “The Voice,” Brandon Bing and Country Airwaves will perform. General admission tickets to the amphitheater lawn are $25, and covered seating tickets are $35. Tickets are available at CFLHope.org/USA. Veterans and first responders are eligible to receive a 20% discount.

CLERMONT

9/11 Memorial Ceremony

10 a.m. to noon at Clermont Arts and Recreation Center, 3700 S. U.S. 27. The city of Clermont 9/11 Ceremony will be held in the Mainstage Theater at Clermont Performing Arts Center. Event speakers will include Clermont Fire Department Chief David Ezell, Clermont Police Department Chief Chuck Broadway, Clermont Mayor Tim Murray, New York City Firefighter Billy Picket and retired FDNY Supervising Fire Marshal Pete Capece. The City of Mount Dora Pipes and Drums will perform, followed by the presentation of colors by the City of Clermont Police and Fire Department Honor Guards and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Honor Guard. Patrick Gibson will perform the national anthem. The ceremony will conclude outside with a 21-gun salute by the Marine Corp League, and taps will be performed by Allen Venezio, director of Bands and Choral Activities at Clermont Middle School. There is no cost, but tickets are required. Reserve at bit.ly/3BOWxun. For more, call (352) 708-5975.

ORLANDO

Sept. 11 Remembrance and Candlelight Ceremony

7 p.m. on Facebook Live. Orlando Fire Department will host the annual Sept. 11 Remembrance and Candlelight Ceremony. The ceremony will open with the Orlando Firefighters Pipes and Drums band and the Orlando Fire Department Honor Guard presenting the colors. Interim Orlando Fire Chief Craig Buckley will address the public virtually, and the Orlando Fire and Orlando Police Honor Guards will light 343 red candles representing the loss of New York City firefighters and 60 candles representing the loss of New York City police officers and officers of the Port Authority.

Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra Concert

10 a.m. at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. The Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra will honor those lost 20 years ago in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Caitlin Mohr is featured soprano soloist, with John V. Sinclair, conductor, Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra; and Stephen Mumbert, baritone. Reservations are available at drphillipscenter.org.