Punta Gorda Remembers 9/11 -- Memorials and Commemorations to be Held

Punta Gorda will commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on that date.  Here are some of the observations being held:  


First Baptist Church, Gill St. Punta Gorda

A memorial service for victims of 9/11 will be held starting at 8:30 a.m.


Military Heritage Museum/Fisherman's Village:

A ceremony coordinated by the Military Heritage Museum will be held at Fisherman's Village at 1 p.m.  The Museum will present "No Franchise on Courage," a Patriot Day (9/11) commemoration. Punta Gorda Fire Chief Rob Hancock will emcee the program, and speakers include Mike Billington, Englewood publisher of The Sun; Matt Besheer of the Punta Gorda Police Department; and attorney Mark Martella.  Bagpiper Patrick Nehs will play "Amazing Grace," and the program will end with bugler Bob Powers playing "Taps." Following the program, there will be a reception in the Museum, sponsored by the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. This event is free and open to the public.



River Walk-Remembering September 11, Our American Spirit Endures

A River Walk will begin on the lawn at the Charlotte Harbor Event Center in Punta Gorda at 6 p.m. which the public is invited to join.

Participants may bring a flower to be cast into the Peace River to remember the victims, and a flashlight to shine in Laishley Park after sunset.  American flags will be provided to the first 1,500 people by the Punta Gorda Kiwanis.  The Master of Ceremony will be Jim McLaughlin, WINK TV News Anchorman from 1977 to 2005, who brought the headlines to southwest Florida for so many years. Jim began his broadcasting career in Charlotte County at WCCF Radio and was the Charlotte County Bureau Chief for WINK prior to his position as news anchor. Last year he returned to WINK as a news anchor and talk show host for the new All News WINK News Radio.

At the River Walk event, Charlotte County Citizens who served as first responders and rescue workers in New York, Pennsylvania or the Pentagon, as well as those who served in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan will be honored and they will lead the walk along the riverfront from the Event Center to Laishley Park. In Laishley Park the Port Charlotte High School Band and the Charlotte High School Chorus will perform patriotic music and our citizens will have the opportunity to thank our troops for protecting our freedom. In addition, Charlotte County and Punta Gorda Fire & EMS departments will be on hand and will display a large American Flag which will be lit up with two huge spotlights to be lit at dark to represent the World Trade Center towers which were destroyed.

All events will take place Sept. 11, 2011.

Please also spread the word to fly the American Flag and fly it at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Patriot Day, September 11.