Dignitaries and elected officials in attendance at the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel’s 4th Annual 9/11 Memorial were Pasco Board of County Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick, from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office was Chief Deputy, Colonel Jeff Harrington and Lt. Matt Meyer and representing the Pasco County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Jeremy Sidlauskas.

Florida Highway Patrol was represented by Sergeant Public Information Officer Steve Gaskins, Master Trooper Toni Schuck and Sergeant Scott Schuck PCSO. Rotary District 6950 was represented by District Governor Troy Willingham, District Governor Nominee Derek Pontlitz and from the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, President David Alvarez, Jenny Yingling, Lisa Moore, John Anglada, Cindy & Kent Ross and many more

Chris Casella of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel recognized the 9/11 Memorial First Responder Scholarship Recipients, Eric Gulley, Brooke Atfrichtig, Jared Burkardt, and Collin Ostapchuk.

It was then time to present the 2022 9/11 Memorial Award to Florida Highway Patrol, Master Trooper Toni Schuck. On Sunday, March 6, 2022, approximately 7,000 runners amassed at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge for the annual Skyway 10k race. Unbeknownst to them, at 8:45am a vehicle operated by a drunken driver and traveling at a high rate of speed was barreling towards them.

The driver drove through and around several barricades and eluded multiple law enforcement officers as she approached the bridge. Hearing the radio transmissions, Master Trooper Toni Schuck sprang into action, knowing she was the last line of defense she maneuvered her Patrol Vehicle into the path of the oncoming vehicle.

That maneuver resulted in a nearly head on collision with the vehicle and ended the threat. Master Trooper Schuck received serious injuries as a result of the collision but, her actions saved hundreds of lives that day. So Today we will dedicate a plaque on our “9/11 Wall of Heroes” in her honor. That Plaque reads:

“On March 6, 2022, Pasco County native Master Trooper Toni Schuck put her own life at risk and was gravely injured while stopping a drunken driver from hitting hundreds of participants in the Skyway 10K race on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The injuries that she suffered could have ended her career, but in a little over 3 months she was back to full duty. Her passion for serving the residents of The State of Florida makes her a worthy recipient of this honor.” Presented by The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel September 10, 2022

Toni was the last line of defense. Watch her heroic action here… https://youtu.be/MgXVsUvBO_M

In addition to Master Trooper Toni Schuck, other speakers addressed the large crowd to speak of their memories and experiences. One was legendary Lt. Colonel Max Bowers, an Army Colonel who was one of 12 special forces immediately sent to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban on horseback following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Also speaking was Craig Gross, a Gold Star Father who lost his son in the War on Terror and Stephen Spelman former emergency medical technician in New York City spoke of being at the World Trade Center on 9/11,

The event and the actual Hall of Heroes was hosted by Tampa Premium Outlets, Chris Durant Gen Manager, Paul Orlovsky. Director of Operations and Shannon Brzuchalski Director of Marketing. The event encompassed three separate parts, the 9/11 Memorial Run/Walk, Field of Flags and the 9/11 Memorial. Major sponsors were Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Law Firm, Woodies Wash Shack, Local Wraps, Billy Wilkins, Legacy Lazer, Chris Locascio and Spinner Law.