SARASOTA COUNTY – 20 years later, across the Suncoast we remember the more than three thousand lives lost as part of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
SNN continues our coverage across the Suncoast as we take time to honor and remember those who lost their life’s 20 years ago on September 11th, 2001.
A tradition in Sarasota kept alive for the past 20 years to honor the victims of the September 11th attacks.
“This is one of those things I remember on September 11, 2001 and working that day and being down there. And after a little while after the dust kind of settled – it was one of the things we always cried Never Forget,” said Walter Powers, a 9/11 survivor New York Firefighter.
Thousands attended the Twenty-Year Commemoration of 9/11 in Patriots Plaza at the Sarasota National Cemetery on Saturday.
For many in attendance an emotional day as the 3,042 lives lost that fateful morning are honored and remembered… but so are the survivors.
“And really honor those who had fallen, and especially those families of those who had fallen and let’s not forget how they’ve had to live their lives without their loved ones,” said William Sepulveda, a 9/11 survivor and retired New York police officer.
The commemoration at the National Cemetery continues a tradition that began the morning of the attack – when the Sarasota Ministerial Association held a prayer vigil.
Dozens of community leaders in attendance sending a message of unity to all Americans and ensuring that 20 years later we rise and we’ll never forget.
“September 11th to me is the most meaningful day in my history. Losing friends and family members – there’s still people we know that are getting sick. This is everlasting, so for this generation we have – to we’re responsible to carry this onto the next generation,” said Powers. “And then the next generation should be responsible to continue to carry this.”
