Miami Lakes remembered the 9/11 attacks with a ceremony and speakers who called for a renewed sense of unity and purpose.
The 25th anniversary rememberance ceremony, held September 11 at Veterans Park, brought together civic leaders and first responders, current and former military members and middle school students born more than a decade after the attacks.
Speakers included Shaya Gutleizer, a New York first responder who worked at Ground Zero on 9/11. Mayor Josh Dieguez, state Rep. Tom Fabricio and Lieutenant Jorge Casiano gave remarks, as did retired Marine Col. William Perez, who is also chair of the Miami Lakes veterans committee, also spoke
Pastor Tino Espinosa of Hope Miami Lakes United Methodist Church gave the invocation while Carols Andres, chair of the Public Safety Committee that put on the event, welcomed everyone.
The Miami Lakes Middle School band played the national anthem.
At the ceremony’s end, Darwin Villavicencio of Miami Dade Fire Rescue led the bell-ringing ceremony.