[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 139 (Tuesday, August 21, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       PALM HARBOR 9/11 MEMORIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 21, 2018

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to 
the Palm Harbor 9/11 Memorial located at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens in 
Palm Harbor, Florida and to recognize all those who worked diligently 
to make this venerable memorial a reality.
  On September 11, 2001, the world was changed forever by a senseless 
act of terrorism; the worst attack against civilians on U.S. soil in 
our nation's history. In August, 2011, Palm Harbor Special Fire Control 
and Rescue District received a steel beam from the remains of the World 
Trade Center, identified as I-0053B. On December 12, 2011, the Palm 
Harbor Board of Fire Commissioners and Curlew Hills Memory Gardens 
entered into an agreement to lease the artifact as a focal point in a 
permanent 9/11 Memorial located at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens in Palm 
Harbor, Florida.
  Through the efforts of the original committee, the Palm Harbor 9/11 
Memorial was unveiled on September 11, 2012. Since then, the Palm 
Harbor 9/11 Memorial Planning Committee, consisting of members from 
Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, Gene O'Kane 
Division of FDNY Retired, NYPD Retired Suncoast 10-13 Club, Pinellas 
County Sheriff's Office, and others, organize the annual Palm Harbor 9/
11 Memorial Ceremony. This ceremony is attended by thousands to pay 
tribute to the heroes who gave their lives on September 11 and to the 
countless others who have perished in defense of liberty since that 
day.
  I am proud of these wonderful and patriotic constituents and ask my 
colleagues to join me in acknowledging the efforts put forth by this 
committee to ensure that the events of September 11, 2001, will never 
be forgotten.

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