Speaker, film commemorate terror attacks

Former Army ranger who fought at Benghazi to be guest

A candlelight ceremony, a movie and a guest speaker who fought at the American post in Benghazi, Libya, all are planned in Lorain County to commemorate the anniversaries of terrorist attacks on two American sites.

The Lorain County Republican Party and an Elyria memorial committee announced events to mark the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. The Lorain County GOP also will commemorate the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the American annex in Benghazi.

The movie “13 Hours” will show at 4 p.m., Sept. 11, at Amherst Cinema, 260 Church St. in Amherst.

The movie is about the terrorist attack on the American offices in Benghazi and team of six American security operatives who fought to repel the attackers and protect the Americans stationed there.

The movie is a personal account based on the book, “13 Hours in Benghazi,” written by New York Times best-selling author Mitchell Zuckoff.

Tickets are available for $5 by Sept. 1 by mailing to 34421 Bainbridge Road, North Ridgeville, OH, 44039. Make checks payable to Lorain County Republican Party.

On Sept. 11 in Elyria, there will be a candlelight service commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The Ridge Rock Band will play from 5:30-6:45 p.m., with a ceremony from 7-9 p.m. There will be a video and lighting of candles at dusk.

Commemorative Tshirts will be available for purchase. The family event is free and open to the public.

Anyone who cannot make the event is asked to leave a porch light on to show support. The event is sponsored by Heather Sorg and Bobbie Sears.

On Sept. 22, “Hero of Benghazi: An Evening with Kris ‘Tanto’ Paronto,” starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Stocker Arts Center of Lorain County Community College, 1005 Abbe Road North in Elyria.

Paronto is a former Army Ranger and private security contractor who has deployed throughout Central and South America, the Middle East and North Africa. He also worked with the U.S. Government’s Global Response Staff, or GRS, conducting low-profile security in high-threat environments throughout the world.

Paronto was part of the CIA annex security team that responded to the radical Islamists’ terrorist attack on the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012, resulting in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three members of his security staff.

Paronto’s team helped

to save more than 20 lives while fighting off the attackers at the CIA annex in Benghazi for more than 13 hours. Paronto’s story is told in the book “13 Hours.”

Tickets cost $25 for mezzanine seats, $50 for orchestra seats and $100 for front row seats. Tickets are available at stockerartscenter.com or by calling 440-366-4040.

Copies of the book, “13 Hours in Benghazi,” will be available for $30 with a book signing by Paronto after the presentation.

Anyone who cannot make the event is asked to leave a porch light on to show support. The event is sponsored by Heather Sorg and Bobbie Sears.

Paronto