Ceremonies to mark the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks were held across Cape Cod. We’ll add more stories as they become available.
PROVINCETOWN – A ceremony was held on Shankpainter Road in front of the Police and Fire stations (video):
WELLFLEET – Wellfleet Fire’s ladder truck flew the Stars and Stripes on the Long Pond Road bridge over Route 6.
Photo by Scott Button/CWN
CHATHAM – The Chatham Police Department, in honoring the citizens, first responders and families of 911, conducted a brief ceremony of a moment of silence and the lowering of the flag to half staff at 8:55 am this morning. Never forget.
Photo by Chatham Police/CWN
HARWICH – Slide show and video from the Harwich 911 ceremony:
Photos and video by Craig S. Chadwick/CWN
WEST DENNIS – The Dennis Fire Department held a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial in front of fire headquarters at 9 a.m. Monday. Dennis Assistant Fire Chief John Donlan led the ceremony:
Speakers included Retired Yarmouth Fire Chief David Aiken, Dennis Police Department Lt. John Brady, Massachusetts State Representative Timothy Whalen, and Dennis Fire Department Chaplain Joshua Crowell. Firefighter Timothy Chicoine then tolled a fire bell the traditional four sets of five rings as the approximately 50 people in attendance observed a moment of silence.
A combined Dennis Fire and Dennis Police honor guard stood at attention throughout the ceremony.
Story and photo by Kevin Morley/CWN
YARMOUTH – Yarmouth had a powerful 9/11 remembrance ceremony here this morning at the Town of Yarmouth 9/11 Memorial Garden located on the grounds of Yarmouth Police Department Headquarters.
Such a beautiful setting with music, prayer, our National Anthem, Taps, remarks, and a beautiful rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ by Alayna Rooney.
Thanks to everyone who participated with special thanks to local resident and Patriot Maureen Tuohy-Bedford for making it all happen and the young and very talented Charlie Clark of Tengu Photography for these stunning pictures.
We will always remember the powerful and poignant words of our Guest Speaker George ‘Tony’ Morrison of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School Principal who is also a United States Marine and United States Army Soldier and the unforgettable remarks by Special Speaker Julia Monteiro Johnson who is a retired Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School Educator—the loving wife of a Veteran—a friend of the YPD; and most importantly…a mom.
These are her remarks…
Good Morning,
Thank you to the community of Yarmouth and especially the Police Department for inviting me to speak today.
Former President George W. Bush on Nov. 11, 2001, said the following:
“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.”
How true these words are 16 years later.
What do you remember about that day? I want to share a few of my memories, some may mirror your own. I remember my husband, Larry, calling me at the D-Y Library to say, turn on the news, the tower has been hit! What are you talking about! What tower! How? Who? I remember turning on the tv and being dismayed and shocked. I remember school superintendent Tony Parentozzi instructing staff to turn televisions off. I didn’t, I couldn’t. My niece– working in New York City. Where is she—is she safe? We saw first responders rushing in and terrorized citizens rushing out. Then the next strike—we watched, we prayed, we tried to understand, we grieved. I remember telling our daughter, Claire, an 18 year old freshman at Tufts University, to stay in place and follow directions of the campus police. As it became known that one flight originated in Boston, my Mother-fear kicked into overdrive. GO GET HER! BRING HER HOME! Her Army veteran Dad responding, we don’t know enough, she’s safe on campus (and then he called our contact at the Tufts Police Department for re-assurance.)
I remember the first responders in New York, DC and around the country—how many of them will never know how thankful and grateful we are for their courage and bravery that day, for days to come and EVERY DAY!
I also remember—our trip to see the Tribute in Lights, the 2 vertical blue lights in New York City that first appeared in March 2002. To me, it was a visual reminder of when America, was attacked in my lifetime, on our own soil by unknown, fear-inducing enemies.
But most vivid for me is remembering, Julie Sweeney, a first year teacher at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, who’s husband Brian was on United Airlines flight 175, a plane that hit the World Trade Center South Tower. Two years married, having worked only a few days as a Health and Physical Education teacher, she was one of us, our community, our school. This message, left on her answering machine, just before 9:00 A.M. On September 11, 2001—
”Hey Jules, it’s Brian, I’m on a plane and it’s hijacked and it doesn’t look good. I just wanted to let you know that I love you and I hope to see you again. If I don’t, please have fun in life and live your life the best you can. Know that I love you and no matter what, I’ll see you again.”
I COULDN’T IMAGINE HER PAIN BUT I ACHED FOR HER!
I remember the Yarmouth Police and Fire Departments, the Yarmouth Department of Public Works, the D-Y district—along with friends, relatives, and strangers, coming together for a Viking sendoff in honor of her husband, former Navy Lieutenant Brian Sweeney! I remember our shock as a community and our coming together to help her and us heal, even if just a little.
I have been to the 9/11 memorial in NYC. A somber, breathtaking place, with the soothing water of the Memorial reflecting pools and a peacefulness that is consuming and compelling. I remember Brian David Sweeney, a man I never met, and reflected on the many others who died.
Julie Sweeney has remarried, has a family and is very involved with the 9/11 Museum. I honor her today for her resiliency and determination. I honor all first responders who by virtue of what they do and who they are, much like our military, are willing to give their lives for us every day. I remember them AND by your presence I know YOU REMEMBER them all as well.
In closing, former President Barack Obama, last year, on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, said the following, “We remember, and we will never forget, the nearly 3,000 beautiful lives taken from us so cruelly… including 184 men, women and children here, the youngest just three years old. We honor the courage of those who put themselves in harm’s way to save people they never knew. We come together in prayer and in gratitude for the strength that has fortified us across these 15 years. And we renew the love and the faith that binds us together as one American family.”
Thank you again America, Cape Cod, Yarmouth for continuing to remember! We must never forget and we must teach our children about the day terrorism arrived in our daily lives!
Media release and photos furnished by Yarmouth Police
HYANNIS – A slide show from the Hyannis Fire Department’s 911 ceremony:
Photos by John P. Carroll/CWN
SANDWICH – Monday morning at 9:55 AM, the Sandwich Fire and Police Departments gathered for a 9/11 remembrance ceremony. May we never forget.
Photo by Sandwich Police/CWN
