Virtual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony on Friday, September 11th

Due to the COVID 19 virus, the Palm Harbor 9/11 Memorial Ceremony will be presented online this year. A pre-recorded 9/11 Memorial ceremony video will be released on Friday, September 11th at 10:00 a.m. on CurlewHills.com and CurlewHills’ Facebook page. The virtual ceremony will include a keynote address from Florida CFO Jimmy Petronis and 9/11 survivor Greg Amira. The video will remain viewable online following its initial airing.

The annual 9/11 ceremony gathering at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens typically attracts about 2000 audience members. To ensure the safety and health of the attendees and participants of this event, the 9/11 volunteer committee decided they could not safely hold the traditional in-person ceremony. But committee members have worked hard to ensure that this virtual ceremony will be equally as meaningful as the in-person service.

The 9/11 virtual ceremony will include:

· Emcee John Wilson (formerly with FOX 13 News)

· Welcome - Keenan Knopke, Curlew Hills Memory Gardens President & CEO

· Keynote Address – Greg Amira, 9/11 Survivor & Rescuer

· Keynote Address – Jimmy Petronis, Florida CFO

· National Anthem - Sonya Bryson-Kirksey, (National Anthem singer for Tampa Bay Lightning)

· An unveiling of a new addition to the 9/11Memorial

· The announcement of the 9/11 Essay Contest Winner

· Rescue & Recovery Memorial Update

· Invocation & Benediction - Milton Smith, Chaplain, Palm Harbor Fire Rescue

· Honor Guards - Palm Harbor Fire Rescue & Pinellas County Sheriff's Department

· A presentation of colors

· A lighting of the memorial flame

· A placing of the memorial wreath

· Tolling of the Bell

“Skipping the ceremony this year was just notan option,” states Keenan Knopke, President & CEO of Curlew Hills Memory Gardens. “While we may not be able to gather in person, it is so important that the victims, the heroes and all those impacted by the tragedy of 9/11 know thatwe as a community, will never forget.”

In addition to the 9/11 virtual ceremony, Curlew Hills will once again have the memorial light beams shining onsite on September 9, 10 and 11. The huge twin beams of light at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens will shine more than 1000 feet in the sky each night from 8:00 till 10:00 p.m. in
honor of the heroes and victims of 9/11. As a beacon of remembrance, the giant twin beams are in likeness to the two beams of light that shined in New York City following 9-11. It is a magnificent and emotional sight.

For more information on this event, visit CurlewHills.com or call Curlew Hills at 727.789.2000