Honoring 9/11, National Day of Service and Remembrance
A message from Raymond James
On the 21st Anniversary of 9/11, we pause to reflect on a day when terrorism changed our lives forever, and vow to "never forget."
Over the course of one day, planes crashed into New York City's Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and Somerset County, Pennsylvania, taking the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent people from over 90 countries. As we reflect on that day, we salute the heroism of our first responders, honor the service and sacrifice of our military members, and remember the lives of the many friends, family members and colleagues lost in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
9/11 is forever a part of our shared American history, and the way we continue to respond to the impact of that day is perhaps the best way to honor the lives lost. Please join us in paying tribute to those who perished and recommitting ourselves to the ideals which make our nation great.
Very Respectfully,
Raymond James Valor (National Veterans Inclusion Network) Leadership
Raymond James Veteran Financial Advisors Network Leadership
In remembrance of September 11 and the lives of fallen heroes
Associates and advisors throughout the firm shared their remembrance stories leading up to 9/11.
“The further we walked, fellow New Yorkers from all cultures and all walks of life waiting on sidewalks with water and other offers of assistance,” said Shannon Reid, senior vice president and division director within the Independent Contractor Division, who was working in Manhattan at the time.
Senior Cash Management Associate Frank Lombardi-Loscocco, who worked at WFC 1 at the time, shared: “As we got to safety, it was to surreal all that we had went through. I can still see it, hear it, smell it. That day will never leave my mind. My heart goes out to all that lost their lives that day and all that died trying to save lives that day. I will never forget.”
“We witnessed the worst in people but what I remember from that day is the best in people,” recounted Financial Advisor Larry Forlenza, who met his wife on the 33rd floor of WTC 2 when they were both working at the World Trade Center. “On that day emergency workers, including fire and police of NYC believed in something and they sacrificed everything by going into those towers. Those are true heroes. That is what I remember and what I focus on. As time moves on and memories might fade, one thing for me doesn’t and that is we promised those 2,977 people we would never forget. For one day put aside our differences, remember what it was like on 9/11/2001 and what we cared about and thought about.”
The firm honored a moment of silence on September 9.
In remembrance of all who lost their lives and in recognition of survivors and those who continue to fight for our freedoms, Raymond James honored a firmwide moment of silence on September 9 (the last workday leading up to 9/11) at 8:46 a.m. ET, the moment of the first attack.
Firm leaders and members of our veterans inclusion networks represented the firm at the Medal of Honor Celebration, September 6-10.
Raymond James is a sponsor for the Medal of Honor Celebration this year, with financial advisor Joe Thompson serving as event chairperson. Nearly 20 individuals from Raymond James, including Raymond James & Associates President and CEO Tash Elwyn on behalf of the Executive Committee and members of Valor Network and Veterans Financial Advisors Network, represented the firm at this year's event in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The firm will be lowering the American flag on September 11, in remembrance.
With respect to the Presidential Proclamation, Raymond James will lower the five American flags at the home office in St. Petersburg, Florida, and one flag at our Southfield corporate location, from sunrise to sunset.