Twenty-three years ago, the unthinkable happened—a major terrorist attack on American soil. After airliners struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, first responders went in to rescue victims. But the Twin Towers collapsed. Almost 3,000 people died that day, including 412 first responders. The first responders are still paying the price—succumbing to cancer and respiratory diseases. Since 2001, an additional 3,000 of these first responders have died.
Ed and Judy Wise spent part of Wednesday, September 11 driving around Plant City. These members of the Plant City Elks Lodge first went to Outback Steakhouse to pick up trays of chicken fettucine and salad. They delivered these to the firehouses in Plant City.
“One thing I would say is, the Elks Lodge, first and foremost, they are amazing community partners,” said Fire Rescue Deputy Chief of Administration, Timothy Mossgrove. “They support Fire and Rescue 100 percent. For them to think of us on such a memorial day of 9/11, to bring us lunch for all the crews at the department, is absolutely amazing. We really appreciate it.”
“This is who and what the Elks are all about,” Judy said. “We strive to serve our communities in any way we can. Our focus is on veterans, children, first responders, and the needy. We recently gave an automobile to a veteran in need. This Thanksgiving and Christmas we will work with another organization to give food baskets to families in need.”
Then the Wises stopped by the Wooden Spoon to get dozens of Cuban sandwiches and bags of potato chips. They took these into the Plant City Police Center.
Officers who happened to be at the Police Center at the time of delivery were happy to grab a sandwich. Others would get their chance doing their work over the course of the day, and for shift changes. “This is just another example of why all of us who have been here so long appreciate working for the PCPD,” said Captain Alfred Van Duyne. “We love our jobs. It’s a calling, obviously, to be a law enforcement officer, but to have this level of support….this is just an example of what the Elks Lodge, Miss Judy, and Mr. Ed, does for us. It’s just truly a testament of largely what we experience in the community. And we can’t be thankful enough. We can’t sing their praises enough. They do so much work. They are tireless in what they do, and we are happy to have them for us, and to be such strong advocates for the police department. We thank them and everyone else who remembered us on this day. It is a solemn occasion, but it definitely helps to have the day brightened when we get treats such as this.”
“On this day of remembrance, all of the men and women of the PCPD are thankful for this level of support,” Deputy Chief Justin Duralia commented. “And not just today, but we get this level of support from the community on a daily basis here in Plant City, and we are grateful. So, thank you.”
The Elks Lodge, in partnership with Manny Roussos, owner of the Wooden Spoon, and Ryan Danielik, Manager at Outback, together covered the cost of these lunches for the first responders.
“We are always trying to do something for the police officers and firefighters,” Judy added. “Every year in December, we have a lunch for the police department at Plant City Elks, and a dinner for the firefighters, and give them awards. It is almost 36 years we have done that. I personally have done it 10 years. We are just so fortunate to live in a town like this.”