Community Corner

Scouts to Host 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in Riverview

The Sept. 11 ceremony will be held at the Winthrop Pole Barn on Bloomingdale Avenue.

It was just a twisted steel beam marred with rust from the elements.

But, like so many other people, Valrico resident Donnie Cagnina couldn't resist touching it.

"I was surprised by my own reaction when I saw it," said Cagnina of the beam that was once part of the World Trade Center and now makes its home with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. "It was just a piece of steel, but I got goose bumps as soon as I touched it, just knowing where it had been and the role it played in history."

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Cagnina remembers exactly where he was when the first plane struck the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

"I was at work at USAA (a home, life and auto insurance firm for military families), and we had the television on," Cagnina said. "I saw the first plane hit and thought to myself something very bad had just happened. Then the second plane struck and it hit home that we were under attack."

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He said his first thought was for the safety of his family, including his 2-year-old son, Joey.

Now 12 years old and a member of Boy Scout Troop 61, led by his father, Joey Cagnina has no memories of that day.

But Donnie Cagnina feel it's important that his son and fellow youngsters understand the significance of what happened and the sacrifices that resulted.

"Most of the boys in my troop are too young to remember 9/11, but they should know what an important event that was in our lives and they should honor those who lost their lives that day as well as the members of the military who have lost their lives since during the War on Terror," Cagnina said.

That was the motivation behind Cagnina and fellow Scout leader, Chris Buchanan of Troop 101, organizing a 9/11 remembrance ceremony.

The ceremony will start at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11 at the Winthrop Pole Barn, 11349 Bloomingdale Ave., Riverview.

Scouts from throughout the Timucua District, which covers Hillsborough County, as well as the general public are invited to attend.

The ceremony will feature the presentation of colors, a timeline of events from that day, the recitation of "The Voice of the Flag" and the Pledge of Allegiance at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

The Scouts also have acquired a Flag of Honor, an American flag printed with the names of the nearly 3,000 civilians and first responders who lost their lives on Sept. 11. It will be on display during the ceremony.

"It will be a short ceremony, about a half an hour, but I think it will have a big impact on these boys who were either youngsters or weren't yet born when the terrorist attacks took place," Cagnina said. "They may not remember the events of that day. But they should honor those lost in the attacks as well as in the war since. It's now part of history. And I think kids should learn about it in the same way we learned about Pearl Harbor when I was growing up."

The heroic events of that day, said Cagnina, also serve to emphasize the virtues of Scouting.

"Scouting is about honor, responsibility, trustworthiness and a sense of duty," said Cagnina. "We're about creating strong young men and instilling them with a sense of service. And it doesn't have to be in the military. You can serve your country in a multitude of ways."


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