Military and first responders remember the fallen 25 years later
Hillsborough County, Fla. (Aug. 14, 2026) - A quarter century has passed since the attacks of 9/11 instigated our nation's longest war and challenged conventions of global security.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR), Veteran Community Services, and the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County will host Patriot Day 9/11: Remembering the Fallen 25 Years Later at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Park & Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum, 3602 N. U.S. Hwy. 301, Tampa, FL 33619.
While honoring the lives lost, Americans commemorate Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Local first responders, active-duty military, Veterans, and civic leaders aim to inspire a generation too young to recall the historic events of 2001.
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) and HCFR cadets will lead the annual Patriot Day ceremony featuring:
- A color guard, rifle salute, and taps
- A solemn escort of the beam: a solid 135-pound section of steel salvaged from New York's Twin Towers that resides at Veterans Memorial Park, representing the supreme sacrifices on 9/11
- A traditional fire service ringing of the bell
- Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Jason Dougherty, Temple Terrace Fire Chief Ian Kemp, and Plant City Fire Rescue Chief David Dittman
After the ceremony, students and attendees can engage with service professionals for photos and interactive demonstrations including:
- Hillsborough County Fire Rescue
- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Drone Response & Underwater Recovery Teams
- MacDill Air Force Base Military Working Dogs (MWD), 6th Security Forces Squadron
- U.S. Coast Guard St. Petersburg Station
- U.S. Marine Corps 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion
- U.S. Naval Reserve Center Tampa
The 25th Anniversary Patriot Day 9/11 event is free and open to the public at Veterans Memorial Park's outdoor amphitheater. Attendees are invited to enjoy the park's many memorials.
For more information about Veterans Memorial Park & Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum, call Veteran Community Services at (813) 635-8316 or visit HCFL.gov/Veterans.
Who: Veterans, County staff
What: Patriot Day 9/11 Event
When: Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Veterans Memorial Park & Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum, 3602 N. U.S. Hwy. 301, Tampa, FL 33619