Florida’s leaders ‘honor and commemorate’ heroes of Sept. 11 attacks

Gov. Ron DeSantis led Florida in remembering the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2002, ordering flags lowered throughout the state.

“To honor and remember those who were lost on that day, I hereby direct the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida from sunrise to sunset on Friday, September 11, 2026,” he wrote in a memorandum

He attended a ceremony in Green Cove Springs.

“At Ground Zero, firefighters, police officers, and EMTs rushed into the smoke clouds and rubble, braving unthinkable danger to rescue as many people as they could. Hundreds of first responders — and passengers on United Flight 93 — made the ultimate sacrifice so that others could live. We will always remember their heroism and owe them a profound debt of gratitude,” he posted on X.

“The 9/11 terror attacks were motivated by a foreign belief system that is still a major aspect of not just the Middle East, but increasingly Europe and even the United States. We should be clear-eyed about the threat posed by Islamic Jihad and do all we can to ensure Never Forget means Never Forget,” the governor continued.

“The monsters who planned this evil attack wanted one thing: to destroy American values, resolve, and unity by terrorizing the American people.” U.S. Sen. Rick Scott posted.

“The terrorists didn’t win in the days after 9/11, and thanks to the incredible resilience of the American people, they will NEVER win in taking us down. Today and every day, may we never forget the great American spirit which guides us through our hardest days, and may we all remember and honor those who lost their lives 25 years ago.”

At a memorial service at U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, along with community officials and law enforcement officers, placed a yellow rose in remembrance of those lost and in honor of the police officers, firefighters, and other first responders showed on that day.

“Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, our nation experienced one of the darkest days in American history. But on that terrible day, we also saw the very best of America. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders ran toward danger to help others. They risked — and in far too many cases, gave — their own lives to save people whom they had never met,” she said.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly attended a ceremony in Naples.

“Twenty-five years later, we remember the lives taken, the families forever changed, and the first responders whose courage revealed the very best of our nation. May we honor them by carrying forward that same spirit of unity, service, and love of country. We will never forget,” he said on X.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds proclaimed in a social media post that “we will never forget.”

“We still mourn the 2,977 lives lost on that horrible day — families in New York and across America shattered by an act of cowardly, unthinkable violence. We still remember the heroes — the first responders who ran towards danger, the patriots who rushed the cabin of United Flight 93. We will never forget. @erikadonalds and I are praying for all of the 9/11 families today.”

On her campaign website, Democratic Senate candidate Angie Nixon recalled the bravery of the first responders that day and the survivors of those killed.

“It is imperative that we continue to fight for them and for those still living with the mental, emotional, and physical toll of that day, advocating for the healthcare they deserve. It is the least we can do to honor their courage and sacrifice.

“‘Never forget’ is not just a phrase but a charge to share these stories with future generations of that day: the bravery shown in moments of sheer terror, and the hope and inspiration born from people coming together,” she wrote.

“That is when we saw humanity at its best, and it’s worth remembering just as much as the devastation we experienced as a nation.”