Keynote Speaker – Lee Ielpi - Retired FDNY, 9/11 Hero
Lee Ielpi is a much decorated veteran of the elite FDNY
Special Operations Company 2 and a Vietnam veteran. He spent 26 years
with the FDNY and his two sons, Jonathan and Brendan, followed in his
footsteps also becoming New York firefighters.
On the morning
of September 11, 2001, Lee received a phone call from his son Jonathan
telling him that he was headed to a fire at the World Trade Center. Lee
finished the conversation with “be safe Buddy” and that was the last
time he spoke to his son - Jonathan Lee Ielpi, a 29-year-old father of 2
young sons. Lee’s second son, Brendan was a probationary firefighter
for just four months at the time and also responded to the World Trade
Center site.
When Lee arrived at the World Trade Center site,
the towers had collapsed, fires were raging, and the site was strewn
with huge pieces of twisted steel and crushed fire trucks. He spent
months searching the smoldering, surreal rubble looking for Jonathan.
During his grueling work at the World Trade Center site, Lee become part
of the well-known group called “The Band of Dads” - a group of senior
first responders who, like Lee, were diligently working daily at Ground
Zero searching for their sons. They inspired others with their fortitude
and determination.
After three months of searching, Lee’s son Jonathan’s body was found. Lee, along with son Brandon, carried Jonathan
out of the debris pile. Lee continued his dedicated search at Ground
Zero for the next six months alongside “The Band of Dads”. Sadly, Lee
was the only one in the group to bring his son home.
Since 2001, Lee has dedicated his life to 9/11 education & remembrance. Lee has served as President of the September
11th Families’ Association Board of Directors since 2002 and co-founded
the 9/11 Tribute Museum. The coat and helmet that Jonathan was wearing
when he was recovered are on display there.
Lee became a leader among the families who lost a loved one on September 11th and has served as a
representative
for families on the National September 11th Memorial and Museum Board
of Directors, the LMDC Family Advisory Council, the Twin Towers Board
and the FDNY Family Advisory Unit.
Mark Wilson is a beloved news anchor on FOX 13. An Emmy
award-winning reporter and anchor with more than 20 years’ worth of experience
traveling the world and sharing the stories of the people of the Tampa Bay
area, Mark would like to think he learned from the best. His father is former
FOX 13 anchor John Wilson.
National Anthem - Sonya Bryson-Kirksy, Tampa Bay Lightning Retired US Air Force
God Bless America - Lisa Cane, Pinellas County School Board Member
Twin Light Beams
Lighting the Sky
Two days prior to 9-11, (Friday, Sept 9-Sunday, Sept 11) Curlew Hills displays
two enormous beams of light projected from the memorial site. The giant twin
beams shown more than 1000 feet in the sky each evening in likeness to the two
beams of light that shined in New York City following 9-11. It is a magnificent
and emotional sight. It lights up the night sky and serves a beacon of
remembrance. Our 9/11 Memorial Lights will shine bright from 8-10:00 p.m. on September 9, 10 & 11. Rain or shine. Drive by to see this beautiful remembrance!
A 9/11 Student
Essay Contest
We are proud to once again sponsor the Gene Gentile Essay Writing Contest. Students grades 6 – 8 in Pinellas County are invited to
participate in an essay writing contest with the theme "How did 9/11
impact the nation?"The first place
winner will receive $500 and the second place winner will receive $250.The first place winner will read his or her
essay at the 9/11 ceremony.
A 9-11 Student Art
Display
Students in 4th and 5th grade in
nearby elementary schools are invited to create artwork based on the theme
"What 9-11 Means to Me". Curlew donates $500 to the art department of
each participating school. All this original student artwork will be displayed
on large boards for everyone to view at the 9/11 Memorial event. Last
year there was approximately 500 pieces of art displayed. Elementary schools
participating this year are Curlew Creek, Ozona, Westlake Christian School and Sutherland.
Facebook Live
In an effort to bring this special event to people everyone,
the 9-11 ceremony will be broadcast on Facebook Live. People from around
the world could watch the ceremony as it happens by visiting the Curlew Hills
Facebook Page on September 11 at 10 a.m.
Other Event
Highlights:
Event Attendance: Approximately 2000
The 9-11 Program also included: Honor Guards, Pinellas
County Sheriff’s Office Flyover, U.S. Coast Guard Flyover, and musical guests.Master of
Ceremonies is well known Fox 13 TV News Anchor Mark Wilson.
This is an outdoor event.Guests are encouraged to bring sun protection, folding chairs and arrive early to avoid
parking delays.
9-11 Monument Overview
Built
in 2012, the one-of-a-kind 9/11 Memorial at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens features
twisted piece of steel “floating” in the center, 30 tons of American granite as
the towers, and a bright eternal flame at its base.Surrounding the 9/11 memorial itself are
large granite monuments with the engraved names of the firefighters who lost
their lives at 9/11 – including the K-9 dog who perished that day. Many of the
visitors to the 9/11 Memorial take pencil etchings from these monuments.
Benghazi Monument– On the pathway leading to the
9/11 memorial is a one-of-a-kind memorial dedicated tothe four men who lost their lives in the Benghazi attack on
September 11, 2012 –
Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith and two CIA
operatives, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, both former navy seals. It is
one of only three memorials in the United States honoring the men in the
Benghazi attack.
New
Rescue & Recovery Workers Monument – This special and one-of-a-kind
monument recognizes the Rescue & Recovery Workers who succumbed to their
illness as a result of working rescue and recovery at the 9/11 site. Experts predict that the
death toll among those sickened by the toxic dust and ash of Ground Zero will
exceed the number of people killed on the day of the 9/11 attacks this year.
This permanent memorial honors the firefighters, police officers, construction
workers, and volunteers who spent time in the rubble of the World Trade Center
in the days or months after the attacks and have since died from illnesses
related to their honorable work. Each year, at the 9-11 Memorial Event, Curlew
Hills will update the number of people on the memorial. Memorial
Bell – The large, beautiful bell that sits adjacent
to the 9/11 Memorial has a significant history. It was originally on the last
wooden ladder fire truck in New York City. Donated by retired NYC firefighter
Joe Daly, the bell was refurbished and now stands at a place of honor in front
of the 9/11 Memorial.It is used during
the ceremony for the Tolling of the Bell.
