PALM HARBOR, Fla. – On Wednesday night volunteers gathered at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens to set the stage for the community’s 25th‑anniversary remembrance of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. Two powerful beams of light were switched on, creating a solemn backdrop for the ceremony scheduled for Thursday morning.
Community involvement and expected turnout
Organizers anticipate that between 1,500 and 2,000 residents will attend the event, which has been a fixture at the garden for the past 15 years. The gathering will feature remarks from local officials, first‑responders, and families who lost loved ones on that tragic day.
Students from four Palm Harbor schools are also taking part. Their classes have produced art projects that reflect on the attacks, providing an educational component that helps younger generations understand the significance of the event.
Personal testimony from a retired FDNY firefighter
Retired New York City Fire Department firefighter Lee Ielpi shared a moving account of his experience searching for his son, Jonathan, who was also an FDNY firefighter and perished while responding to the attacks. Ielpi spent nine months in recovery operations at the World Trade Center site, locating his son after three months of intensive effort.
“The men and women who worked at that site weren’t just firemen or police, they were civilians. Those men and women on their hands and knees every day retrieved 19,900 and some odd body parts,” Ielpi said. He expressed relief that his son was found intact in his uniform, a detail that brings comfort to his family.
Details still pending
While the overall schedule has been released, officials have not yet disclosed the full list of speakers or the complete roster of school groups that will participate on Thursday. The community can expect a program that balances solemn remembrance with hopeful messages about resilience and unity.
Curlew Hills Memory Gardens has become a focal point for Palm Harbor’s annual 9/11 observances, offering a peaceful setting for reflection. The illuminated beams of light symbolize both remembrance of the lives lost and a beacon of hope for future generations.
How to attend
The ceremony will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, located on Curlew Hills Road in Palm Harbor. Parking is available on site, and families are encouraged to arrive early to secure a spot.
For more information, residents can contact the event’s volunteer coordinator at the garden office or visit the Palm Harbor city website.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
