9-11 Remembrance Ceremony

Save the date: 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

Friday, September 11, 2026
USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus 8350 N. Tamiami Trail

8:15 A.M. Flag Raising & Taps, Campus Entrance
8:30 A.M. Remembrance Program, Campus Student Center Ballroom

For more information, please contact sm-veteransuccess@usf.edu or 941-359-4291

Make a Contribution

To make a contribution in support of this event and the office’s mission, please visit sarasotamanatee.usf.edu/SC0027

Woman and military person carrying rememberance wreath

2025 Speaker: Edward Grayson, Former Commissioner, NYC Department of Sanitation & 9/11 Responder

Edward Grayson began his career with the NYC Department of Sanitation in 1999 and rose steadily through the ranks retiring as Commissioner in 2022. In 2001, he was a Sanitation Worker and one of the thousands of NYC responders deployed to the WTC site for recovery operations in the aftermath of the attacks. DSNY personnel were onsite throughout the entire 9 months of recovery operations.

"I'll never forget Sept 11th, 2001, the emotion and images of that day and the days after will be etched in my mind forever. As we gather for this memorial 24 years later, we must honor the victims and brave first responders who perished that day, and the scores of responders who have passed due to 9/11 related illnesses since then."

Edward Grayson

2025 Attendees
Sarasota Police Department	Sarasota County Fire Department	Sarasota County Sheriff Office
Campus Police Department	United States Marine Corps, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion	United States Army, Sarasota Recruiting Company
Braden River Brass Quintet	Ross Allen, Bagpiper and USF Alumni	Saint Stephens Episcopal School
Booker Middle School