Central Florida Remembers Twentieth Anniversary of 9/11

On the 20th anniversary of September 11, Central Florida gathered together to remember those lives lost on 9/11 and the heroes whose names will forever live in the nation’s memory.

From the young to the aged, most alive during September 11, 2001 can remember distinctly where they were upon hearing the news that tragic day.

Whether in a kindergarten cafeteria on the first day of school, about to board a flight for work, or simply watching television at home, each American shares in the unique bonds of sorrow forged that day and the brief but glorious moments of unity that followed.

Among the wide array of remambrances in Central Florida, Windemere's service at the city's 9/11 memorial embodied the most intimate of the day's events. Elected officials, city leaders, clergy and families of victims and first responders joined together to honor those lost.

Erected by Eagle Scout Jeff Cox just over ten years ago, the memorial remains a focal point for the community and serves as a gathering place each year on the anniversary of the attacks.

Pictured above (left to right) stand former Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn, Police Chief David Ogden, retired firefighter Robert Miglio, Rayna Upton Haigh, current Windermere Mayor Jim O’Brien and Windermere’s Police Chaplain.

Following the September 11th attacks, Miglio, a former Michigan firefighter, volunteered to aid New York’s first responders on the scene. Throughout the course of his involvement, Miglio also collected a gallery of pictures, ash and other items from the scene which he displayed at Windermere‘s memorial service.

To the right of Miglio: Rayna Upton Haigh. Upton Haigh’s brother, Allen Upton, worked near the top floor of World Trade Center One for the firm Cantor Fitzgerald. In addition to the events of 9/11, Upton previously experienced the chaos of the first World Trade Center attack in 1993. Tragically, he and 658 of his colleagues were lost on September 11th. But Haigh says that the memory of her brother and his resilience, passion for life and love for others continues on in the memorial and the lives of those who knew him.

The service included prayers by local pastors and Windermere's police chaplain as well as patriotic scores and a police honor guard. Mayor Jim OBrien spoke, recalling the unity of the days and months after 9/11: "Recall with me a moment when you couldn't purchase an American flag, because 79% of American adults displayed one proudly. When the US Congress came together to govern in the way only a common enemy can create, consider this fact, just after 9/11 60% of adults expressed trust in the federal government, a level not witnessed in at least three decades prior to that time, nor the two decades since."

In addition to the Mayor and town clergy, former Naval aviator Rick Bohner, who also served as an administrator at one of Orlando’s most well-known Christian schools, The First Academy, spoke as well.

"We celebrate Memorial Day to honor those in our arrmed forces who paid the ultimate sacrifice. I see Patriot Day as a time to honor our first responders in remembrance of their service and sacrifice," Navy veteran Rick Bohner told the audience.

Bohner further pondered in his speech what might bring back the unity of 9/12 and spoke to the current state of the nation today:

"Charles Blow, a columnist for the New York Times, rightly said, 'We are all covered forever with a bit of ash from those towers.' This day permanently changed the life of America... But it was a day that brought us together again in unity, even after divisive elections [the previous year], for a season... One can ask, 'what brought us together?'"

"We realized we had a lot more in common that we thought we did. But the question I have now, is how we return to that level of unity? I would suggest that it is not politics or a military action... But something unifying will be much deeper."

"I served [in the Navy]. When you're called to lay down your life, you have to come to grips with what's worth living for and dying for. You find that you must live your life by a certain set of meaningful values, and in the military, we do just that."

Following Bohner's speech, the service concluded with a special wreath laying ceremony and taps.

Windermere and Orlando served as flagship venues, with the former being the only city in the Central Florida area to boast of a memorial.

A photo gallery of Windermere's service and other local remembrance ceremonies can be found below.

Gallery