Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank Judy Matt and her incredible Spirit of Springfield team, and all of our benefactors, sponsors and supporters for their efforts and generous contributions to our heartfelt and respectful monument to honor all of the brave and dedicated first responders and civilians that lost their lives on that fateful day. My administration is proud to have supported this endeavor to honor their memory and legacy of sacrifice. This special book will document what went into securing this important piece of our nation’s history for preservation, the creation of the monument to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice trying to save lives, the redevelopment of our Riverside Park, and the dedication ceremony with the numerous public safety officials and delegates in attendance, including Andrew Card, former Chief of Staff for President George Bush.”
“Springfield’s September 11th Monument has been one of the most significant contributions the Spirit of Springfield has made to our community,” said Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt. “It is to remember the lives we lost, honor those who protect us every day, and it serve as a reminder for future generations. The booklet chronicles the tale of how the community came together to create the lasting tribute.”
During the event, notes of congratulations will be read. They will include sentiments from Andrew Card, Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush, New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban, and Lieutenant Joseph Jurgens, New York City Firefighter and brother to New York City Court Officer Thomas Jurgens who was killed on September 11, 2001.
The 28-page soft cover booklet reminds readers of the tragedies that occurred on September 11, 2001. It tells about the Springfield Police and Fire Departments’ and the Spirit of Springfield’s goal to obtain an artifact from the World Trade Center, when the piece was picked up, the hero’s welcome that it received, the monument’s design, and selecting the perfect location. It includes the monument’s dedication ceremony with Andrew Card, former Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush, and who will be remembered as the man who whispered to the President that the country was under attack.
In addition to listing all the names that are on Springfield’s September 11th Monument, it highlights some of them including the New York City Firefighter who introduced the daughter of Steve Roberts, a prominent local business man, to her husband.
The names on the monument are those of the 498 first responders who died on September 11, 2001. This includes law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency services technicians, and personnel from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who were deemed first responders. It lists the members of the military who were killed at The Pentagon, and the Environmental Police Officer who fought with his fellow passengers before the plane crashed in the field in Pennsylvania.
The booklet, sponsored by Charlie Arment Trucking, MassMutual, Monarch Enterprises, Steve & Georgianne Roberts, St. Pierre Phaneuf Funeral Chapels, The Colvest Group, and Western New England University, will be available for $10 each. Pre-orders will be accepted at the booklet launch and at spiritofspringfield.org on the September 11th Remembrance Ceremony event page. There will be a $3 fee for shipping and handling.
Beginning November 13, 2023, the books will be available during regular business hour at the Springfield Visitor’s Center at 1391 Main Street, Springfield, and at the Spirit of Springfield at 1350 Main Street, Suite 1004, Springfield, MA. They will also be sold at the Bright Nights Gift Shop when it opens on November 22, 2023.
The Spirit of Springfield is a non-profit organization which was founded on December 1989 with a mission to bring the community together. They produce large-scale, high-quality events that include the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, Star Spangled Springfield, Springfield’s September 11th Remembrance Ceremony, military concert, and Bright Nights at Forest Park.
For more information about Springfield’s September 11th Monument booklet “Forever in Our Hearts,” contact the Spirit of Springfield at 413-733-3800, staff@spiritofspringfield.org, or visit spiritofspringfield.org.
