ROXBURY — Just before noon on Friday, the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, people began to arrive at the Veterans Memorial in Roxbury. By the noon siren, there were some fifty neighbors, two newspaper reporters from two neighboring papers, three men from the American Legion, ten firefighters from Roxbury and Grand Gorge and Molly the dog. It was meaningful to see all, including Molly whose quiet and well behaved presence reminds us of the many K9 first responders who helped in the days and months after the tragedy. The dogs had been trained to find living people and their human handlers reported that over time the dogs grew depressed at not finding any survivors.
There were people gathering in cities and towns, villages and hamlets across the nation today. We came together to remember those we lost. Some of us lost people we knew, some lost family and friends. But all of us lost, we lost fellow citizens and we lost visitors and foreign workers. They all were lost to America.
It was good to see Reverend Dot, the chaplain of the Grand Gorge Fire Department. Mike Manion and I spoke for a little while, remembering where we were on that terrible day. Mike had been working on power lines just across the river in New Jersey. It was a day which changed all of our lives.
The memorial began with an introduction and prayer by Rev. Richard Dykstra the chaplain of the Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department and pastor of the Jay Gould Memorial Reformed Church. His prayer was meaningful and healing. He gave thanks for the lives that were given and taken that day. He gave thanks for those who risked their lives for others, for their devotion to duty and self sacrifice. He asked for healing for those who were injured and who lost family and friends. He asked for God to help the world's leaders make the right decisions in resolving conflict in our world, He ended with "Come loving Spirit, heal our wounds, cast out our fears, renew our faith in the power of good to conquer evil and your promise of peace on earth."
Next to speak was Marty Finch. He reminded us of the more than seven thousand service members who have died in the wars on terror. He reminded us that the nearly three thousand lives lost that day were more than were lost that other time, when America was attacked at Pearl Harbor. He recalled those who died on the planes, the Pentagon, and from 9/11 illnesses in the aftermath of the attack. He recalled the first responders who gave their lives due to illness working on "the pile." "We must never forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. He then announced that the bell from a former fire engine would ring the 4 5s for those firefighters who died in the attack. After the bell rang in four sets of five chimes, Marty asked us to remember those who have given their lives in service of the nation and taps was played.
Marty closed with the words, "Let us never forget." It was good to see so many neighbors who took a few moments to remember.
