USF Sarasota-Manatee to host Sept. 11 remembrance at Sarasota National Cemetery

Staff Report
·3 min read
USF Sarasota-Manatee will host its Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11 at Patriots Plaza in Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota. Pictured here is the crowd from the 2016 ceremony that marked the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2011 attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania that killed 2,996 people and injured more than 6,000 others.

USF Sarasota-Manatee is moving its annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony to Patriots Plaza at Sarasota National Cemetery. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11.

The service to remember victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and pay tribute to survivors, first responders, members of the military and their families has typically been hosted on theUniversity of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus but is being moved this year to Patriot Plaza on the cemetery grounds at 9810 State Road 72 to avoid interfering with ongoing construction of a new student center and residence hall on campus.

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“The new venue is a perfect backdrop for the Sarasota-Manatee campus and the larger community to remember those who died and the sacrifices made by so many on 9/11 and since that tragic day,” Carlos Moreira, the director of campus engagement for veteran success and alumni affairs on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, said in a prepared statement. “We hope members of the USF community and residents of Sarasota and Manatee counties will join us to honor those who died and the first responders, military servicemen and women and others who responded bravely to the terrorist attacks."

The USF Office of Veterans Success and USF Sarasota-Manatee organize the event. USF Federal Credit Union is the title sponsor.

Flags will still be planted at USFSM courtyard

One element of USFSM’s annual commemoration of the terrorist attacks is remaining on campus. Starting at 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, students, faculty, staff and other volunteers will plant 2,977 miniature United States flags – one for each person who died in the attacks in New York City, Virginia and Pennsylvania – in the campus courtyard.

Featured speaker a state fire inspector

The featured speaker is retired firefighter Matt Bruce. Bruce was injured during the attack on the World Trade Center while a state fire inspector on duty with the Fire Department of New York on Sept. 11, 2001.

He is a Vietnam War Army veteran and the recipient of two Purple Hearts and Bronze and Silver stars.

"For those of us who were there, we will never forget the true heroes of the day, the ones who died,” Bruce said. "It’s all about never forgetting what happened, the evil force that did it and those we remember for all eternity.”

The ceremony will also include remarks from USFSM campus Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook, patriotic performances by the Saint Stephen's Episcopal School children’s choir, a bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace,” a moment of silence, a 21-gun-salute and a bugler playing "Taps."

Parking on site with golf cart shuttles

Parking will be on site at the cemetery and there will be golf carts available to take people from the parking lot to Patriots Plaza.

For more information, visit the USF webpage for the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. To RSVP, go to https://usf.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0DSPJGupFH8aQEm?Q_CHL=qr or email Moreira at cjmoreira@usf.edu

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: USF Sarasota-Manatee to host 9/11 remembrance at Patriots Plaza