Local businesses remember fallen heroes

Port Charlotte Florist and Teleflora donated the flowers and cards for the arrangements. Chick-fil-A donated cookies to each station, but they disappeared before we could get a picture.

The sound marked the minute that American Airlines Flight 11 was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in 2001.

While the world watched in horror and civilians streamed from the island of Manhattan many, many firefighters and EMTs ran into the chaos. Hundreds of them never came out.

Over the years, traditions have sprung up to remember those who were killed in the attacks, and this year a small group of Charlotte County businesses began a new one.

Each fire station that serves Charlotte County, including the Boca Grande Fire Department, received a floral tribute to those that gave their lives in service on that day. Twenty-one were created in all, and they were delivered on the 11th anniversary of the attacks.

The idea occured to Dennis Gill of Port Charlotte Florist almost two weeks ago. He talked to his wife Mary, who designed the arrangements. When the shop contacted Teleflora, that company was happy to donate the cards that went with each one.

Donna, Dennis and Mary’s daughter, was talking about the project at church on Sunday, and was overheard by a local business owner. Ed Leslie, who owns the Port Charlotte Chick-fil-A francise, wanted to help. The company donated a selection of cookies for each station.

Each element of the arrangements has a meaning. The container is a model of an old-fashioned fire truck. Twin stalks of bird-of-paradise symbolize the two towers, a spiralingbranch represents the smoke from the attacks rising into the sky and red, white and blue flowers express the unity of the American people in the wake of the attacks.

Dave LeClerq of the Boca Grande Fire Department is married to Donna. He expressed the appreciation of the department for the gift.

“We would like to give a big thank you to everyone involved,” said LeClerq. “The remembrance of the fallen is very important to us.”

The flowers will be on display at the Fire Department Administration Center.