Marco Fire Captain Chris Crossan, his wife Jennifer and daughter Ava, seen here at last year's 9-11 remembrance event. Crossan was named "Fire Fighter of the Year." Another first responder will be awarded that hour at the 9-11 observance this Sunday at the Marriott. Chris Curle/Eagle Correspondent
It no doubt will be a bittersweet time at the Marco Island Marriott Resort this Sunday, as Islanders pause to observe the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America.
Bitter, of course, because of the carnage, the outrage, the unforgettable damage done to this nation and its people.
Sweet as well, because we will honor our heroes, mingle with dear friends and neighbors and perhaps strengthen some ties
that bind.
It’s a family event, a luncheon, from noon to 2 p.m., sponsored by the Marco Island Fire-Rescue Foundation, honoring first responders and their families, veterans and all patriots.
The featured speaker will be a 9/11 first responder, Det. Sgt. Dennis Bootle. The foundation also will announce the recipient of this year’s Firefighter of the Year award.
As last year, the event Sunday will include some moving video presentations honoring our heroes and recounting the courage and valor of first responders and their families.
Master of Ceremonies for the observance will be Dave Elliott, one of our area’s premier radio hosts. Dave is live weekdays 3-6 p.m. on WGUF 98.9 FM. You may remember him as emcee for the past two years of the Christmas celebration and tree lighting at Veterans Community Park.
A fire fighter will ring a brass bell, slowly, five bells, then five more and twice more. It’s called “Four Fives,” the traditional signal to fire fighters everywhere that a colleague has fallen in the line of duty.
Tickets may still be available. You can call Dianna Dohm at 331-0908.
If you have time, please check out the Farmer File column in the Friday edition of the Naples Daily News. It includes some reflections on 9/11 and on Homeland Security. Much is written and spoken about the impact of 9/11 on all our lives. That column is my modest contribution.
This beautiful photo of the World Trade Center before the terrorist attack of 9/11 was made by Marco Island travel expert Ewout Rijk de Vries. Ewout Rijk de Vries/photodevries.com.
A Marco man treasures his photo of the Twin Towers
The photo elsewhere in this column of the Twin Towers is striking at any time, especially as we approach the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack there on 9/11.
The man who took the picture is Ewout Rijk de Vries, long-time Islander and owner of America Travel at 1116 N. Collier Blvd. He offered to let us publish the photo for the first time and told us the story behind it.
“I had to pick an early Sunday morning to be able to lay on my back in the middle of the street and shoot with the right light and shadow, while a police car watched out for me. Normally there never was anybody anyway in the Wall Street area early on a Sunday morning.
“For me the photo is a feeling of peace between powerful America and the different beliefs, here accentuated by the shadow of the Orthodox Church in front of the World Trade Center. It makes me proud to be an American.”
Our thanks to Ewout for allowing us to share this photo with you.
Folding the Flag
If you’re among the many islanders who are flying the U.S. flag at your home, or may be planning to fly a flag over this 9/11 weekend, you may want to brush up your knowledge of flat handling and etiquette.
For example, we were not sure of the proper way to fold the Stars and Stripes when it’s not flying. Nor did we know the symbolism of each of the 13 folds involved.
The best place to find out quickly how to handle your flag is at the Web site: usflag.org. For specifics on folding the flag, visit usflag.org/foldflag.html.
One of our misconceptions was corrected quickly by the flag experts. We, like many other Americans, thought the 13 folds symbolized the 13 colonies. Wrong. Check it out. And if you don’t have a flag, the VFW sells them and proceeds go to veterans’ charitable causes.
For information, call Dave Gardner at 642-4410 or email vfw6370dave@yahoo.com.
Chris Curle is a former news anchor for CNN and for ABC-TV stations in Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Houston. E-mail chris@chriscurle.com.
Don is a former ABC News correspondent and bureau chief and a former news anchor for CNN and ABC-TV, in Atlanta. His Farmer File column appears Fridays in the Naples Daily News. E-mail: don@donfarmer.com.
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Comments » 5
RayPray writes:
"Tickets may still be available."
>>> Depressing how nothing that happens in the country can avoid being transformed into a fund-raiser by the same posse of puffed-up blowhards....
smiley writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
RayPray writes:
"This is a solemn occasion."
>>> No, just a golden opportunity for BSh from the same pack of self-inflated gasbags....
RayPray writes:
"Ray I am surprised you don't think the 10th anniversary of 911 is a solemn moment."
>>> 9/11 was the solemn occasion.
>>> Today, a decade later, is just the opportunity for fund-raisers and self-advertised 'heroes' to huff & puff & strut their stuff for $$$.
RayPray writes:
"You should be ashamed of yourself and beg God to forgive you!"
>>> Here is what you write for another article:
"islandeye1#236971 writes:
"I understand your point and agree....All the hype due to the 10th anniversary has fanned the fire as well."
>>> HYPE?
>>> Inconsistent?
>>> You should beg Allah to forgive you!
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