Across the North Shore Sunday, residents, government officials, and first responders gathered in recognition and memory of the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which took nearly three thousand lives in 2001.
In Lynn, firefighters and police officers formed a line next to members of the City Council at the Fire Department Headquarters on Western Avenue to honor the first responders and civilians who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.
At 10:00 a.m., the first responders, stood side-by-side in front of the Fire Headquarters, for the 5-5-5-5 Tolling of The Bell, meant to signify the death of a firefighter.
Following the first Tolling of The Bells, Firefighter Lenny Levesque lowered the flag to half-mast before a full minute of silence.
The silence concluded with an invocation from Fr. Vincent DeVito, a pastor at Calvary Christian Church in Lynnfield.
“Oh God, we remember before You this day our brothers and sisters lost on September 11, 2001. We thank you for their example of courage and sacrifice. In your boundless compassion, console their families, friends, co-workers, and all who mourn their loss. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our journey and serve with honor, dignity, and courage. Amen,” Fr. DeVito said.
After the prayer was another Tolling of The Bells before the flag was raised. The Lynn English High School’s drill team and armed drill team concluded the ceremony with back-to-back performances.
Deputy Fire Chief Arthur Richard pointed out that none of the performers are old enough to have lived through 9/11.
“The fact that we do this remembrance is good because generations that follow will know how important it was to those of us who were here for that event,” Richard said. “We do this ceremony every year, as part of that ‘do not forget,’ if you forget then that’s how things get repeated again, so we try to remember our lost, and I welcome these kids that come and participate because I know that none of them were around for it.”
Richard said that watching the plane hit the building on television that day, he knew immediately that the attacks would lead to the deaths of firefighters.
“I remember thinking when I watched the building fall, the first thing that hit my head was ‘we just lost 1000 firefighters.’ I felt like that’s how many guys were in there at that time. I go into burning buildings all the time, and I don’t think I’m gonna die. I never think that, and those guys didn’t either. They just went in there doing their jobs […] it was a tremendously bad day for America,” he said.
Fire Chief Stephen Archer said that the annual memorial must continue out of respect for those who sacrificed their lives in 2001.
“It’s important, as firefighters, to always remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It’s very important to us that we do this each year, that we show that respect for those who have gone on before us. They are forever in our hearts,” Archer said.
In Lynnfield, a large crowd turned out Sunday morning on the Town Common at the annual First Responders Day observance and town barbeque to honor first responders and commemorate the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“We are gathered here this morning to honor our policemen, firefighters, emergency medical professionals, and dispatchers,” said Select Board Chair Phil Crawford. “We are also here to make sure we never forget what happened on Sept. 11, 2001.”
Boy Scouts Troop 48 presented colors and Girl Scout Troops 67136, 69177, 83618, and 82559 recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Boston Anthem singer Todd Angilly sang the National Anthem and also closed the observance with God Bless America.
Dolan said the events of 9/11 “changed our lives forever.” A moment of silence was observed in memory of resident Garnet “Ace” Bailey and native Sean Patrick Lynch who perished that day, described by Dolan as “incredible citizens.”
Bailey, who won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins, was on a scouting trip to Los Angeles on United Airlines Flight 175. He died at the age of 53 after it crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center.
Lynch attended Huckleberry Hill School and graduated from St. John’s Prep and Boston College. He had just been promoted to senior vice president of equity trading at Cantor Fitzgerald where he had an office on the 104th floor of the North Tower. He was only 34 years old when he died after American Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the building. Every one of the 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees at work that day perished.
Police Chief Nick Secatore said the department is honored to have the town’s appreciation.
“I’d like to ask that today we come together to reflect an appreciation for all of those who lost their lives and for those folks who serve the town of Lynnfield,” he said, highlighting the important role that “people behind the scenes play to make everything work for us. There are nearly 30 of them here, 30 citizens.”
Police Chief and Emergency Management Team Director Glenn Davis noted that today’s school children were born after the attacks and there are millions of young people without personal memories of that day. He said young people need to know that 9/11 is about honoring the innocent victims who lost their lives while remembering “the courage and bravery of the first responders who rushed to help their fellow citizens and perished.”
As a firefighter, Davis said “there’s a feeling of arriving at an incident and your sixth sense is telling you, ‘this one is going to bad and you might not make it home.’ I have no doubt that the men and women who responded to the World Trade Center that day had the same feeling… (yet) without hesitation, they went forward anyway. This is the true meaning of bravery, duty, sacrifice, and selflessness.”
He said the lesson from 9/11 is “the idea of service, the idea of giving a small piece back, as we remember what these heroes did for the victims of a senseless terrorist attack.”
A total of 2,977 people were killed and more than 6,000 others were injured in the attacks.
In her closing prayer, Rev. Lori Wyckoff said “we pray for those who respond at the first call, for those who rush toward danger bringing hope and comfort, for those who serve, protect and guide others to safety. Give their families the courage to love and support them with patience and generosity as they give so much of themselves to those who are in need.”
In Peabody, residents turned out at two observances Sunday morning as the city observed the anniversary of the attacks.
The day started with a Police Department ceremony at the Sept. 11 Memorial Park on Grandview Avenue where residents N. Janis Lasden and Donald DiTullio and Peabody native Christine Barbuto were remembered.
The three were aboard American Airlines Flight 11 when it was hijacked and crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Lasden and DiTullio were on their way to Los Angeles for a vacation while Barbuto, a buyer for the TJX Companies, was on a business trip.
Police Chief Tom Griffin said the attacks represent a “truly horrible” time in the country’s history.
“People are still dying every day from the impact of 9/11. As we get further away from that day it becomes increasingly important that we gather here to remember those who were lost, particularly the members of the Peabody community,” he said.
Griffin offered condolences to the “neighbors and family members who pass this memorial frequently. We share your sorrow and renew our pledge that we will continue to be here every year to remember your loved ones so that their memory will always remain.”
State Rep. Thomas Walsh (D-Peabody) said he had the opportunity to visit the 9/11 memorial in New York City this past year. After waiting for his turn to view the memorial, the first name he saw was that of Christine Barbuto.
“It was surreal, the most unbelievable thing to think that the first name I saw was hers,” said Walsh. “It was a powerful moment. Today is all about remembering those we lost and it’s so important that we come out and do this every year so nobody will forget.”
Walsh said Sunday was a bittersweet day for the community with the return of the International Festival after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
“The city is excited to have the festival back, but Sept. 11 is always a somber day,” Walsh said.
Councilor-at-Large Anne Manning-Martin said it’s important for residents to reflect upon the city’s 9/11 loss.
“A lot of people have been touched by that loss, so this is a nice way to remember them every year with a memorial,” she said.
A short time later, the fire department held a ceremony at the Peabody Safety Memorial on Perkins Street across from Emerson Park. The ceremony included a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the attacks.
“This was such a tragic day that you knew exactly where you were,” said Fire Chief Joseph Daly. “I still can’t imagine the courage these first responders showed even though that’s what we do every day. What they did to this day is still mind-boggling.”
Daly said he feels 9/11 brought people together. He traveled to New York City to attend several funerals of first responders who perished.
“People were incredibly appreciative that so many from all over the world went to New York in 2001 to show their support, over the past several years our own people have driven a wedge of non-tolerance and hate. The pandemic should have brought us together the same way 9/11 did, instead, it drove us apart.
Fire Chief Joseph Daly said that approximately 450 public safety personnel lost their lives as a result of the 9/11 attacks, but “there was no shortage of courage that day.”
“Every individual who lost their lives deserves our respect and tribute and remembrance. Please, never forget,” he said.
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at [email protected]. Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected].