Gabrielle Russon
While remembering the tragedy 24 years ago on Sept. 11 during a ceremony in Palm Harbor, Gov. Ron DeSantis also spoke out on Wednesday’s tragedy of conservative activist Charlie Kirk being assassinated.
DeSantis spoke at the ceremony to honor and remember the 3,000 victims and the first responders who stepped in to help. The ceremony included bagpipes, an American eagle and students winning their award-winning essays on the terrorist attacks.
DeSantis reflected on how the tragedy inspired him to join the U.S. Navy.
“Nothing rivaled what happened on 9/11. It changed the trajectory of my life,” DeSantis said. “I probably would not have become a naval officer had that not happened and I know it changed the trajectory of so many others lives.”
As Governor, DeSantis said he has pushed to make Florida a leader in requiring students to learn about Sept. 11 history.
“I was in my early 20s when 9/11 happened. So that was probably the foremost experience in terms of our country in my lifetime,” DeSantis recalled.
“It’s important for our kids to know that on the worst day, where the worst evil was put before us, we saw some of the best that this country has to offer.”
On Thursday, flags across the state are lowered to fly at half-staff until sunset.
The 9/11 attackers were in ideological war with the United States when they attacked 24 years ago, the Governor said. And the Governor condemned the evil then along with the evils that lead to Kirk’s murder.
“Yesterday we saw the assassination of a young political leader Charlie Kirk who I knew many of you probably knew and you see some of the evil that’s working within,” DeSantis said. “What happened yesterday was somebody that was assassinated just because they were bringing different viewpoints to college campuses.”
Authorities are still searching for the gunman who shot and killed the 31-year-old Kirk, a conservative leader and ally of President Donald Trump, during a speech at an Utah university. Kirk was a father of two.
