Sept. 11 Patriot Day ceremony in Picnic Park West

     On Sept. 11, officials from the Town of Miami Lakes, its Veterans Committee; members of American Legion Post 144; Miami-Dade Fire Rescue; Miami-Dade Police and the U.S. Coast Guard gathered in Picnic Park West to observe the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks upon America. 

     Speakers included U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart and Mayor Manny Cid, shown in left photo above; Vice Mayor Luis Collazo and Councilmembers Jeffrey Rodriguez and Marilyn Ruano, speaking at the podium, Capt. Shawn Koch, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Opa-Locka; Miami-Dade Police Maj. Javier Ruiz; Michael Coote, chair of the Veterans Committee and Carolina Ferreiro-Diaz of Pharma Natural.

     Dorloushie Ambroise, a student at Barbara Goleman Senior High School, sang an a capella version of the Star-Spangled Banner and Frank Lima performed on electric violin.  Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Edwards rang a fire bell and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flew above the park. Veterans, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from 247, Palm Springs North; Police Explorers, Sea Scouts Ship 144, Giving Gators volunteers and employees from Humana and Pharma Natural planted thousands of flags on the lawn the night before, organizers said. The event was sponsored by Pharma Natural, which is based in town.