Where were you when the world stopped turning?

After the attacks on 9/11, Alan Jackson wrote that song after fighting with his own feelings for weeks. Twenty years later, many of us still fight with how we felt that day, watching the World Trade Center Towers fall to the ground, realizing another plane went down short of the target of the White House, and another striking the Pentagon and taking more lives.

The 20th Anniversary of 9/11 brings those painful memories back for first responders, their families and friends and those of us who sat in shock that day, watching it all unfold. President George W. Bush was actually in Florida, in front of schoolchildren in Sarasota when an aide whispered the news and he quietly left, not wanted to scare the kids. This Saturday a number of ceremonies will be held across Tampa Bay to honor the lives lost, and give comfort to those who had their lives changed forever.

- In St Petersburg, Rise St Pete will hold a memorial in the Warehouse District on the 22nd St Corridor with the last 4,000 pound steel beam removed from the World Trade Center as its centerpiece. “Rise St Pete” was a true community project which raised $400,000 in donations to make it happen. Another personal touch of trees that come directly from the ranch of former president George W. Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas.

- A memorial service in Palm Harbor will be at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens at 10 am with retired New York Fire Department and 9/11 first responder Garrett Lindgren. Singer Lee Greenwood will be the musical guest, and a helicopter fly-over from the US Coast Guard.

-Tampa Fire Rescue will hold their 9/11 Observance Ceremony at Tampa Firefighters Museum at 9 am with Fire Chief Nick LoCierco will be the master of ceremonies at 720 E. Zack Street.

-Patriot Day 9/11 Remembrance Event at Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park at 9:30 am at 3602 U.S. Highway 301 North with the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County, with first responders and military members leading the tribute.. Keynote speakers will be from U.S. Central Command and Hillsborough Fire Rescue. This ceremony will include an escort and procession of a piece of steel beam salvaged from the Twin Towers.

For additional events and information on 9/11 commemorations, please click here.

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