By Eugenio Torrens
M.J. Price was getting ready to go on a morning bike ride with a girlfriend on Sept. 11, 2001. While her friend was making a protein shake, Price cocked her head to see what was on TV.
“It was like a Lifetime movie,” she said.
She couldn’t believe the image of the plumes of smoke billowing from the World Trade Center.
To this day, she can’t remember if she went on that bike ride.
Price is the creator and organizer of the 9/11 memorial event Zephyr Park hosted. She said there has been an event every single year starting in 2002.
“The event is about memorializing those who passed away and those who protect our freedom,” said Price, who started the afternoon dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
Over the last decade, Price has helped organize more than 120 free community events in Zephyrhills.
This one was no different. Price said the first few memorial events following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks were more serious. This year she designed it for a more family friendly atmosphere with outdoor games, music and indoor expos.
“If you don’t improve the quality of your community, then no one will,” Price said.
The event also featured speeches from Rep. Rich Nugent, R-Brooksville, and Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
Doc Riley, a Vietnam War veteran and current member of the Shriners, had his custom 1998 Honda Valkyrie motorcycle on display at the event. Originally named The Red Dragon because “dragon” was one of the conceptual names tossed around when the bike was making its debut, the motorcycle is full of custom-made parts, including a gattling-gun exhaust and Cadillac taillights and turn signals.
“It’s truly one of a kind,” he said.
Riley, who had 15 flags on display including flags from various military branches and two U.S. flags specifically for the 9/11 event, said the attacks 10 years ago had a “great significance.”
A former GTE and Verizon employee, he was working at a cell tower in the middle of a cow pasture when he heard on the radio the World Trade Center had been struck. He feels people have become too consumed with their personal lives to fully appreciate their neighbors.
“Every year since then, it’s been downgraded,” he said. “People think we’re secure, it could happen today.”
Also at the event was the Pasco Sheriff’s Mounted Posse — police officers and volunteers on horseback.
Kim Alexander had recently graduated from high school when the attacks happened. Now she is 29 and is a member of the mounted posse, along with Jake, her 7-year-old Percheron draft horse.
“It’s pretty meaningful,” Alexander said about the picnic. “I didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to show my support.”
John Bushell, who was a police officer in Tampa for 30 years and has been with the mounted posse for eight years, said he was with current Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi eating breakfast at a Village Inn when they heard about the attacks.
“It doesn’t seem like it was 10 years ago,” he said.
Congressman Nugent, who according to Price was an “unexpected guest,” said as much as the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks needed to be remembered, recognition also needed to be heaped on first responders, including the firefighters.
“They ran into a burning building as people were running out,” Nugent said. “It is a thankless job.”
Weatherford, who spoke shortly after Nugent, called first responders his heroes. He also praised citizens like Todd Beamer aboard United Airlines flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville, Penn.
“It seems like Sept. 11, 2001 is still fresh in our minds,” Weatherford said. He noted how it could be hard to remember what you ate for breakfast, or what you did last week. But he said it’s crystal clear what you were doing when you heard about the attacks.
“You can’t change what happened. You can’t change that our lives will never be the same since that day.”
And he acknowledged that while the country may have its differences over different economic policies or party lines, there are things people don’t argue over because they don’t have to.
“We’re arguing over how we’re going to spend money. We’re not arguing over free speech,” he said.
