TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Mayor Receives Trade Center Flag

News Channel 8 photo by PAUL LAMISON

Tampa Fire Rescue workers gather today to pay tribute on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

ADVERTISEMENT

By VALERIE KALFRIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2008

TAMPA - A flag that once flew over the World Trade Center in New York City will hang in Mayor Pam Iorio's conference room - a gift from the police of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Tampa Fire Chief Dennis Jones presented the flag to Iorio on Thursday at a brief ceremony downtown commemorating the thousands who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Fire dispatchers sounded a signal at 9:59 a.m. to mark the collapse of the South Tower at the World Trade Center and another signal in remembrance of all the lives lost that day, including at the Pentagon and at Shanksville, Pa., where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed.

"Everyone remembers where they were when it occurred," Iorio said of the day's horror to about 40 police and fire personnel. "Let's remember all the great things this country stands for, and how grateful we are to be U.S. citizens."

Jones said he received the flag from the Port Authority police chief last year when an exhibit featuring a beam from the World Trade Center visited Tampa. The exhibit stopped in 17 cities nationwide, he said. Neither he nor Iorio knew how many flags from the World Trade Center had been distributed. They considered this one an honor.

Iorio said it will be mounted and displayed in her conference room.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT