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Bonita Springs dedicates downtown reflection area to honor first responders
Summary
City and fire officials, surviving responders and a retired ambulance crew chief marked Patriot Day with the dedication of a downtown reflection area featuring an artifact from the trade center, a proclamation by the mayor and a bell-ringing to honor fallen firefighters.
Bonita Springs — Officials and community members gathered in downtown Bonita Springs to dedicate a new reflection area honoring first responders and victims of the September 11 attacks.
The ceremony included remarks from the fire board chairman, a proclamation from Mayor Mike Gibson and testimony from Barbara Hurst, a retired COMAC volunteer ambulance crew chief who described responding to thousands of calls in the days after the attacks. The reflection area includes commemorative artwork by Laurent Dereur and a stone the emcee said was retrieved from the trade center and placed at the site to serve as a focal point for remembrance.
"Their unwavering commitment 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a testament to the courage, sacrifice, and resilience required in this noble profession," Chairman Jeffrey Matura said, thanking current and retired personnel and the fire board for their service. Matura introduced the gathering and recognized command staff and the chaplain among attendees.
Mayor Mike Gibson read a city proclamation urging residents to observe Patriot Day with appropriate ceremonies and to remember those who died and those who served on rescue missions. "I hereby proclaim 09/11 as Patriot Day in the city," the mayor said during the reading of the proclamation.
In her keynote, Barbara Hurst described her work with a volunteer ambulance service and the local response after the attacks. She said crews handled mainly psychological and respiratory calls and treated people who arrived at homes covered in dust and blood. "The dust was so bad everywhere south of Canal Street," Hurst said, recounting the acute respiratory and cardiac problems crews encountered.
The ceremony included a traditional bell-ringing sequence to honor fallen firefighters. The emcee explained that four sets of five rings — 20 in total — would mark the end of emergency operations and honor the 343 firefighters who did not return from their shifts. Attendees were invited to place flags at the memorial and gather for refreshments after the program.
The event organizers said the reflection area is intended as a community space for ongoing remembrance and reflection. The ceremony concluded with an invitation for the public to visit the memorial and a note that the city expects to observe Patriot Day with the same ceremony in future years.
