By Katelyn Colley, Intern Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
Apopka hosted its first “Together as One” festival on Saturday to help honor a local firefighter and remember the events of 9/11. The festival featured live music, bounce houses, food trucks and regional vendors supporting AFD fundraising.
The event began after the second annual memorial 5K race around the Northwest Recreation Complex, with photos of fallen firefighters posted around the field. Apopka Lt. Jerold Maynard noted how these types of events motivate people to push themselves and honor the sacrifices of first responders.
“It’s so important to educate people on this day and keep the history alive,” Maynard said. “Not many young people know firsthand what happened that day, so we must always remember the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11.”
Maynard, who was the main organizer of Saturday’s event, wanted to make sure there were more opportunities to help commemorate the September attacks in the local community. Maynard confirmed that they could attend a festival afterwards for residents who couldn’t run the race. This festival also raised money for the Armando Borjas Jr Scholarship, which is in memory of an Apopka firefighter who died of cancer at age 39. The scholarship helps young people pay for Fire and EMT school to achieve their career goals, just like Borjas did.
“I love volunteering with the fire department for events like these and helping out wherever I can,” said Madison McCain, an Apopka High School senior who plans to pursue a career as a firefighter after graduation. “I really wish more people would come to these events because they bring people together and strengthen our community.”
Supporting potential recipients of the Borjas fund, like McCain, was the main reason some vendors came to the festival. One such business owner is Felicia Wright-Bell, founder of soul food bakery Charlie Chat’s Kitchen.
“When I saw this event online and heard Borjas’ story, it really weighed on my heart,” Wright-Bell said. “I felt compelled to come here because of the scholarship fund and to make sure we can support the young people who want to go through the fire academy.”
Although Saturday was a day of conviviality, most of the Apopka amphitheater was left with empty seats. Members of the Apopka Police Department, who attended to support their fellow first responders, noted the difficulties in getting residents to come to the events.
“We would like local residents to engage with our social media and check the city’s website so more people know to come out because these events are so important,” said APD Officer Jason Wiggins, who was sent by APD to help New York. Residents of the city just after the September 11 attacks.
“By partnering with local businesses and charities, we can say that we need to come together as a nation and as Americans. It’s very easy to see negative things everywhere, so we want to make sure that our community know that there are positive things happening here too.”
Wiggins and other lifeguards hope to continue this festival and 5K as an annual tradition, helping it become a well-attended event each year to come. Regardless, Apopka first responders want the community to honor those lost to September’s tragedy on this 21st anniversary in any way it can. As time passes, the memory will remain.
“We tend to think of heroes as movie stars and professional athletes, but 9/11 showed us how everyday people can be heroes,” Maynard said.
To donate to the Borjas fund, visit https://www.armandoborjasjrfoundation.com/donate.html .
Keywords
Apopka Amphitheater,
Apopka Fire Commission,
Apopka Police Department,
9/11,
Apopka
