Communities throughout Polk County are preparing to come together in solemn remembrance as two separate municipal ceremonies mark the milestone 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The coordinated observances will honor the nearly 3,000 individuals who lost their lives on that tragic day in 2001, while also recognizing the courage of emergency personnel and military service members who responded in the aftermath.
Across the county, civic organizations, local leaders, and public safety personnel are coordinating their efforts to ensure that the passage of a quarter-century does not diminish the collective memory of the tragedy. Through morning and evening events scheduled in Haines City and Winter Haven, organizers intend to provide residents with opportunities to reflect on the national tragedy and pay tribute to local emergency personnel.
The day’s observances will begin in the morning in Haines City, where municipal leaders have arranged the annual Patriot Day Remembrance Ceremony. Set to commence at 8:30 a.m., the gathering will take place outdoors at Railroad Park, positioned directly across from Haines City Hall, providing a central venue for civic gathering.
Organizers in Haines City have extended an open invitation to all members of the public, welcoming local residents to assemble alongside municipal officials, municipal staff, and area first responders. The event is designed to create a shared space for grief, reflection, and community unity as participants look back on the lives cut short during the attacks twenty-five years ago.
The Haines City ceremony will feature a roster of prominent local figures who will address the gathered crowd. Key presentations will be delivered by Haines City Fire Chief Codi Donahoe and Haines City Police Chief Issac Jackson, both of whom will speak to the profound legacy of service and emergency response that defines the post-9/11 era.
A particularly poignant perspective will be offered by guest speaker Sasha Estevez, a survivor of the 2001 attack who now operates RBI Barber as a local business owner in Haines City. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Estevez was embarking on a new professional chapter, beginning a management role with UPS in an office structure situated directly across the street from the World Trade Center complex in New York.
As the morning ceremony concludes in Haines City, commemorative efforts will transition to an evening program scheduled to take place in neighboring Winter Haven. That event, officially titled "Honor Our Heroes - Remembering the Day," will be hosted within the grounds of Winter Haven’s South Central Park.
The evening remembrance represents a comprehensive collaborative endeavor involving the City of Winter Haven, the Polk County Veteran's Council, and fire and law enforcement departments from across the entire county. By uniting multiple emergency service branches under a single commemorative banner, organizers aim to demonstrate countywide solidarity among emergency services and community members.
The schedule for the Winter Haven memorial includes an active procession known as the Freedom Walk. Formal registration for community participants wishing to join the walk will open in the afternoon at 4:30 p.m., allowing attendees adequate time to gather before the organized procession begins.
At 5:30 p.m., the Freedom Walk will officially commence its route, weaving through the streets of downtown Winter Haven. Leading the public march through the downtown corridor will be the honor guard from the Lake Region High School Marine ROTC, guiding participants along the designated path before the group returns for the formal speaking program.
Following the conclusion of the Freedom Walk, the event will segue into an assembly featuring remarks from senior emergency management leaders. Winter Haven Police Chief Vance Monroe and Winter Haven Fire Chief Drew Neubrand are scheduled to speak, offering their thoughts on the enduring influence of September 11 on modern emergency response practices and local public safety efforts.
The central keynote address in Winter Haven will be delivered by Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Ring, an experienced public servant whose background spans more than 26 years of combined service across military and law enforcement branches. Ring, who continues his active service as a chief warrant officer assigned to the 383rd Military Police Detachment, will bring firsthand military experience to the commemorative podium.
In addition to the formal speeches and ceremonial walk, the South Central Park venue will incorporate symbolic visual exhibits dedicated to fallen service personnel. Prominently featured among these installations is a traditional cross and boot memorial arranged to honor every first responder from Polk County who has lost their life in the line of duty, set alongside historical displays created to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 2001 attacks.
Underscoring the broader mission of the gathering, Gary Clark, Chairman of the Polk County Veteran's Council, emphasized that the event serves as a unifying focal point for the entire region. Clark noted that the assembly allows the local populace to show appreciation for those who step forward to protect others under hazardous conditions.
Reflecting on the obligation of the public toward service members and emergency responders, Clark stressed that the community carries a shared responsibility to pay homage to those who perform their duties every day, risking their safety both on domestic soil and on missions overseas.
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