The public is invited to join local 911 personnel at Fort Myers Harley Davidson, 2160 Colonial Boulevard, for a day of tribute and celebration on Saturday, September 11.

Events will begin at 8 a.m. with registration for the Second Annual 911 Appreciation Ride. Registration is $10 per participant and includes breakfast at Rodeo Grill in LaBelle.

At noon ceremonies will begin with “A Heroes Tribute,” remembering the heroes lost on September 11 and honoring local heroes in public safety and the military.

Representatives from law, fire, EMS, and the military will be speaking. Also doing presentations will be the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard and Mounted Patrol.

Officials said that immediately following the ceremony, they will “Celebrate the Hog,” and ribs cooked by teams competing for the title of “Best Ribs in Lee County” will face the judges. The public will also have the opportunity to judge the ribs.

Citizen Judges will be able to purchase sample tickets at the event welcome booth. Everyone who samples the ribs can vote for their personal favorite and decide which team is “The Crowd Pleaser.” Lunch can also be purchased from the cooking teams.

Music will be provided by Nashville recording artist, Ronnie Morgan, who will perform with local celebrities, Robbie Brooks and Cayla Reeves.

The Lee Memorial Blood Mobile will be on site from 11:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. A booth will also be dedicated to receiving donations and collecting items to send to a military troop overseas. Items specifically being requested are phone cards, individual serving drink mixes, beef jerky, trail mix, nuts, protein bars, and baby wipes.

There will also be raffles and prize drawings. Prizes include restaurant gift cards to Outback Steakhouse, Applebee’s, Chili’s, the Laugh in Comedy Club, and two tickets to the Dec. 26 Tampa Bay Bucs game and other sports memorabilia.

All funds raised will benefit the 911 Training Fund of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

The Communications Training Team is working diligently to continue to be an industry leader and participate in advanced dispatch and 911 training. Funds will be utilized to send members to training classes and conferences.

Sponsors for the event include Star and Shield Insurance, the Offices of Goldberg, Racila, D’Alessandro and Noone, Bonita Dental Arts, Victory Lanes Caf, Costco,

Avenue 1410/1660, and Fort Myers Harley Davidson.

For more information, contact Chris Hodges at 239-477-1213.