Town celebrates first responders, remembers 9/11

FIRST RESPONDERS DAY PARTICIPANTS, from left, Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis, Select Board member Alexis Leahy, Select Board member Phil Crawford, Police Chief Nick Secatore, Select Board Chair Dick Dalton, Ave Maria Parish Rev. Paul Ritt, Boston Bruins Anthem Singer Todd Angilly and Town Administrator Rob Dolan honored the victims of the 9/11 attacks and recognized first responders on Sept. 11. (Dan Tomasello Photo)

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Hundreds of residents commemorated the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and recognized Lynnfield first responders during the annual First Responders Day ceremony on Sept. 11.

This year’s ceremony held special significance as it occurred less than 24 hours after the Fire Department and departments from 17 communities battled a six-alarm blaze that destroyed five businesses at The Shops at Post Office Square strip mall.

Town Administrator Rob Dolan thanked residents, local officials and first responders for attending the ceremony.

“Lynnfield has not forgotten that tragic day, but we also remember the unity and common purpose that we all shared as a community and as Americans,” said Dolan. “That day triggered for all of us a renewed appreciation for the men and women who serve our community as firefighters, police officers, EMTs and paramedics as well as our crossing guards and those who answer 911 calls in the middle of the night with a panicked person on the other line looking for help. We have been taught at a very young age to run away from trouble. They have been taught through their training to run towards trouble.”

After Ave Maria Parish Rev. Paul Ritt gave the innovation, firefighter/EMT David Marenghi and Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis led firefighters during the “ringing of the bell” portion of the ceremony.

“The tolling of the bell five times with four repetitions is how the New York City Fire Department announces the line of duty death of a firefighter,” said Davis.

The ceremony’s attendees held a moment of silence in honor of the 2,977 people who died on 9/11.

After a group of Boy Scouts presented the colors and Girl Scouts led attendees with reciting “The Pledge of Allegiance,” Boston Bruins singer Todd Angilly gave a moving rendition of “The National Anthem.” He and the Scouts were given a round of applause.

Police Chief Nick Secatore thanked the planning committee for organizing the First Responders Day ceremony. He also thanked the hundreds of residents for coming to the event.

“We are here to honor those who lost their lives 23 years ago and to ensure that we Never Forget,” said Secatore. “The terrorist attacks that happened that day changed our country and changed the world forever. Although those events were horrific, they brought our country together and solidified American beliefs and resolve. It brought many people into service of the country and its communities. We come together at events like this to remember that so that the sacrifice of so many is not lost in history.”

Secatore thanked Lynnfield firefighters for working nonstop since the strip mall fire occurred the night before.

“In the last 24 hours, they managed a major fire scene while continuing to provide services to residents,” said Secatore. “Most stayed to attend this ceremony. It’s remarkable. It reflects the commitment of all the first responders in the town of Lynnfield.”

Secatore said the Police Department is “very grateful” for the support officers have received from the community.

“You all consistently show us support,” said Secatore.

Secatore concluded his remarks by asking First Responders Day’s attendees to “remember those who lost their lives” on 9/11 and honor “those who serve our community and the United States of America.”

The ceremony’s attendees gave Secatore a round of applause.

Davis said, “The United States of America suffered a severe blow when we were attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.”

“So many years after our nation was attacked, the events of Sept. 11, 2001 may be fading in the minds of many Americans,” said Davis. “But for those of us who spend our lives in the service of others — be it in the fire service, law enforcement, emergency medical services or the military — the memories of those terrorist attacks that took so many lives remain fresh.”

Davis recalled that Lynnfield children as well as some local first responders were born after 9/11.

“Millions of young Americans have no personal memories of that day,” said Davis. “It is my sincere hope that our children and grandchildren never have to experience what we did on that day, and they never have to face the tragedy, the shock, the uncertainty and the fear that we did.”

Davis encouraged the ceremony’s attendees to educate children and young people about the 9/11 attacks.

“What do we tell these young people? We tell them to remember,” said Davis. “We cannot relive that day forever, but to forget it would be a tragedy on its own. Remember the courage and bravery of the first responders who rushed to help their fellow citizens and perished. We remember the 343 New York City firefighters and paramedics, the 23 New York police officers and the 37 Port Authority police officers. If we ever forget, we are allowing the almost 3,000 people who died that day to have perished in vain. They were Americans. They were representative of who we are as a nation. They were mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands and wives. They were people who met their end in a manner that cannot be changed, but God willing prevented in the future.”

Davis encouraged the ceremony’s attendees to “appreciate” their families and recognize that life is “finite.”

“Let us remember those who are no longer able to look at theirs,” said Davis. “The men and women of the Lynnfield Fire Department will continue to serve and be there when Lynnfield residents call us. We will always remember the ultimate sacrifices made on Sept. 11, 2001.”

The ceremony’s attendees gave Davis a round of applause.

Select Board Chair Dick Dalton thanked the town’s first responders for “risking their life and health every day.”

“I want to give a special shout out to our Fire Department personnel who worked very hard to contain the devastating fire at the South Lynnfield mall,” said Dalton.

The ceremony’s attendees gave the firefighters in attendance a round of applause.

Dalton recalled that 2,977 people died during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which he noted was “the deadliest terrorist attack in world history.”

“And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 6,000 people died as a result of health issues from that day,” said Dalton.

Dalton said all of the 9/11 victims “had a story” and “left behind loved ones.”

“Sept. 11 is etched in our hearts and minds forever,” said Dalton. “We know where we were, what we were doing and how the world stopped. I remember not long after 9/11 visiting the 48th and 8th Midtown Fire Station in New York City. Fifteen firefighters assigned to that station died on 9/11 — more than any other firehouse in New York City.  As my wife and I approached the fire station, you couldn’t walk on the sidewalks because they were covered with flowers that people had been bringing each and every day.  On the side of the building was a picture of each of those brave firefighters.  People were weeping, praying and paying their respects to these fallen heroes. Today, we pause to remember once again how ordinary human beings, living their ordinary lives, reacted with extraordinary heroism.”

Dalton recalled that retired Boston Bruins left wing Garnet “Ace” Bailey, who lived on Ivanhoe Drive, was aboard United Airlines Flight 175 when it crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Bailey was 53-years-old when he passed away, and left behind his wife Kathy and son Todd.

“Ace played 11 years in the NHL and was a scout for 20 years after he retired as a player,” said Dalton. “He played five years with the Bruins, during which time the team won two Stanley Cups. Later in his career, he was a line-mate to then teenager and future superstar Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky and Ace became lifelong friends. In the years that followed, when ‘The Great One,’ as Gretzky was called, had a game in Boston, he didn’t stay at the team hotel. He stayed down the street at the Bailey home on Ivanhoe Drive. Ace’s personality was larger than life and he had the ability to light up a room – like no one I have ever met. I’ll always remember him as the hockey parent who always brought laughter to our get-togethers.”

Dalton also recalled that Lynnfield native Sean Patrick Lynch passed away in the World Trade Center at the age of 34.

“Sean attended Huckleberry Hill School, and was a graduate of St. John’s Prep and Boston College,” said Dalton. “He had just been promoted to senior vice president of equity trading at the prestigious firm of Cantor Fitzgerald, where he occupied an office on the 104th floor. He along with 657 colleagues perished that day. He was a young man who was positioned for a long and successful career in finance. He was remembered by his friends as a special young man with a special smile who was warm, polite and fun to be with. Sean was survived by his parents, John and Margaret, who were parishioners at Our Lady of Assumption Church. Additionally, he left behind four siblings.”

While Dalton said the U.S. is “not a perfect nation by any means,” he encouraged the ceremony’s attendees to remember that, “We are in fact the brightest beacon.”

“And the best way we can honor those who were taken from us is to work together to make that beacon even brighter,” said Dalton. “God Bless those who perished and their families and God Bless America.”

The ceremony’s attendees gave Dalton a round of applause.

After Rev. Ritt gave the closing prayer, Angilly led attendees during a performance of “God Bless America.” Attendees were then treated to a cookout.