The program included remembrances from Springfield Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi; Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood; Patrick Pickering, Regional Director for American Medical Response; and Colonel Tom Bladen, Commander of the 104th Fight Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno brought greetings and the invocation was done by Father Gary Dailey, Chaplin for the Springfield Fire Department. Anthony Cignoli, President of A. L. Cignoli Company, served as the master of ceremonies and the voice of Springfield Vanessa Ford sang the National Anthem.
Mayor Sarno states, “It is with a heavy heart that we hold this limited gathering, due to the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, to remember those who lost their lives on September 11th, including our first responders who gave the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to save others. We wish to honor and must never forget their memory and courageous bravery. Our brave and dedicated first responders are always in our hearts and prayers, especially now as we hold this remembrance ceremony amid this current pandemic. They are the ones who are running into the buildings to save lives, while everyone else is running out.”
Fire Commissioner Calvi stated, “It is important to remember the sacrifices made by those men and women even in these times of crisis.”
“America is still the greatest country in the world. We are the beacon of hope, democracy and strength,” Mayor Sarno added. “Today, and every day, we are proud to be Americans and we will never forget that in our darkest hour, we all came together as one. That in this tragic event, we united to pick each other up, to care and comfort each other without regard to race, religion, creed, color or background. Again, this is needed more than ever now, as we move to defeat this COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic and heal social unrest. God Bless the United States of America and God Bless our City of Springfield.”
Springfield’s September 11th Monument was dedicated on June 19, 2019. It features a vertical I-Beam from the World Trade Center and a curved bronze wall listing the names of the 498 first responders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Most are firefighters from New York City. There are many law enforcement officers, members of the military, as well as employees of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The monument was designed and constructed by Salmon Studios in Florence, MA.
Springfield’s September 11th Remembrance Ceremony is a collaborative effort between the Springfield Police and Fire Departments, and the Spirit of Springfield.
