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Bay Area Events Commemorate 9/11 Anniversary

News Channel 8 photo by PAUL LAMISON

The flags fly at half staff at Mitchell Elementary School in Tampa to mark the Sept. 11 anniversary.

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TBO.com

Published: September 10, 2008

TAMPA - Local agencies and businesses will host a number of events today to commemorate Sept. 11, which by proclamation of President Bush, is now known as Patriot Day.

Here's a list of events throughout the Tampa Bay area:

• Tampa Fire Rescue Chief Dennis Jones will be joined by Mayor Pam Iorio and Tampa police Chief Stephen Hogue at 9:45 a.m. for a memorial ceremony. The event will be held at Tampa Fire Station No. 1, 808 Zack St.

Tampa Fire Rescue Lt. Roger Picard and his search and rescue canine, Jessie, will attend the event. Picard and Jessie searched the rubble of the World Trade Center towers seven years ago searching for survivors.

Tampa fire crews at stations throughout the city will be conducting similar ceremonies at the flagpoles in front of their fire houses. The event is timed so that a moment of silent will be given at 9:59 a.m., the time seven years ago when the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.

• The head of U.S. Central Command will address University of South Florida ROTC students at 8:30 a.m. Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, acting commander of CENTCOM, will speak at C.W. Bill Young Hall, 12303 Maple Drive, on the USF campus.

USF President Judy Genshaft, the USF Board of Trustees, senior CENTCOM representatives and other guests will also attend.

• Clearwater firefighters will commemorate Sept. 11 with a moment of silence from 9:50 to 10 a.m. at all city stations.

At 9:50 a.m., firefighters will bring the fire engines out of the stations with lights activated. At 9:58 a.m., the firefighters will stand at attention; one minute later, dispatchers will announce the moment of silence over the radio.

• St. Petersburg firefighters will also observe a moment of silence from 9:50 to 10 a.m. at all city firehouses. Firefighters have been asked to also bring their engines out of the stations with the lights activated but to also prominently display "Never Forget 9/11" signs.

• Florida Blood Services in St. Petersburg is hosting a "Patriot Day of Remembrance" beginning at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast at the FBS offices, 10100 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. N., St. Petersburg.

Donors, staff members and the public are invited to attend. U.S. flag pins will be given to all attendees as well as a Sept. 11 memorial poster. Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Craig Maciuba, who led a local contingent of firefighters to New York City seven years ago, will speak at the event.

• Sarasota firefighters will host a ceremony starting at 8:30 a.m. at Payne Park, 2050 Adams Lane, Sarasota.

The event, hosted by the city of Sarasota and Sarasota County, will feature members of Sarasota police and fire rescue as well as the Sarasota Military Academy. Police Chief Peter J. Abbott will speak, offering his experiences of when he was a New York City police officer during the terrorist attacks.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office will conduct a helicopter flyover that will head west and drop a wreath in the Gulf of Mexico in memory of those who died seven years ago.

Public parking is available at the municipal parking garage at Ringling Boulevard and School Avenue. Additional parking is available adjacent to the skate park near School Avenue and Adams Lane.

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