Retired Brigadier General John Driscoll, State Senator Adam Gomez, City Council President Jesse Lederman and Councilors Kateri Walsh, Justin Hurst, Zadia Govan and Lavar Click-Bruce, Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, and members from the Springfield Police and Fire Departments, Hampden County Sheriff's Department, the State Police, and AMR were also in attendance.
The 9/11 Monument, a structural steel beam from the World Trade Center in New York City, was donated to the Spirit of Springfield by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The annual ceremony, a Springfield tradition since 2002, will include members of the Springfield Police and Fire Departments, AMR, and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department.
John Sjoberg, Chair for the Spirit of Springfield served as the master of ceremonies. Mayor Sarno will bring greetings on behalf of the city of Springfield, and Police Superintendent Clapprood, Fire Commissioner Calvi and Major General Keefe provided remarks. The golden voice of Springfield, Vanessa Ford sang the National Anthem.
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, Massachusetts.
Springfield’s September 11th Remembrance Ceremony is a collaborative effort between the Springfield Police and Fire Departments, and the Spirit of Springfield.
Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank Judy Matt and the Spirit of Springfield for organizing our September 11th Remembrance Ceremony. It is so important that we remember those who lost their lives on that fateful day, September 11th 2001, 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. They are the ones who are running into the buildings to save lives, while everyone else is running out.”
“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. This is needed now more than ever. God Bless the United States of America and God Bless our City of Springfield.”
