Americans, as a people, vowed to always remember the events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. And next Wednesday morning in Cape Coral, first responders, city leaders, and members of the public will gather to “never forget.”

On the lawn in front of City Council Chambers at 8:30 a.m., the public is invited to gather to pay tribute to the thousands who lost their lives in the terrorist attack that rocked not just the nation, but the world 23 years ago.

The ceremony will include the presentation of colors by the Cape Coral Fire and Police Honor Guards; a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., when the first plane hit the North Tower; an invocation, and remarks from Mayor John Gunter, Police Chief Tony Sizemore, and acting Fire Chief Mike Russell.

The ceremony will end with attendees staking 2,977 American flags, each with a name of a victim of the attacks, in the front lawn of City Hall to honor their memory and reaffirming that “We Will Never Forget.”

“During the Cape Coral 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, we will come together as a community to honor the memory of the innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001 and reaffirm our commitment to the solemn promise that ‘we will never forget’ by staking 2,977 American flags, each one representing a precious life lost, in the front lawn of City Hall,” Russell said. “This ceremony serves as a reminder of the resilience, unity, and strength that define our great Nation. It is an opportunity for us to stand together in solidarity and pay tribute to those we lost and honor those who with dignity and courage made the ultimate sacrifice to help others.”

The terrorist attack on the United States reshaped the path of the nation moving forward, and tragically, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives and still many feel after-effects today.

Of the nearly 3,000 who perished, 343 were FDNY firefighters and 71 were law enforcement officers.

“As we approach 9/11, we honor everyone who was impacted by the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and in Pennsylvania,” said CCPD Public Affairs Officer Lisa Greenberg. “We honor the memory of the fallen heroes who gave their lives to save others during those attacks, and we honor those who are dying from illnesses related to 9/11. The City of Cape Coral, along with our department and the Cape Coral Fire Department, is hosting 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony to reaffirm that we will never forget that tragic day and we invite everyone to join us.”

The community is an integral party of the city service, officials said.

“The City of Cape Coral is honored to host the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony each year to pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost and to honor the brave first responders who risked their lives,” said city spokesperson Kaitlyn Mullen. “This event is about remembering the past and coming together as a community to reflect on the resilience and unity that emerged in the aftermath of the attacks.

“We encourage the public to attend to show solidarity and support for those who continue to be affected by the events of Sept.11. It’s an opportunity to express our gratitude and to remind ourselves of the importance of community and service.”

City Hall is at 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.