Branford Holds Moving Ceremony To Remember Those Who Died on 9-11

BRANFORD, CT - The Town of Branford Tuesday morning hosted a remembrance ceremony at the Branford Fire Department headquarters to honor those the country lost and the lives that have been forever changed on Sept. 11, 2001.

Tuesday is 17 years to the day that the United States was attacked by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda.

It is also the 17th year that Branford has held a ceremony to honor those who died. Among those in attendance Tuesday were all three selectmen from the town, state represenatives Lonnie Reed and Sean Scanlon, state senator Ted Kennedy, former New Haven Fire Chief Michael Grant, many members of the Representative Town Meeting, and a large contingent of Branford residents, students, and others.

The September 11 attacks (also referred to as 9/11) were a series of four coordinated attack against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

The attacks killed 3,000 and injured 6,000 more.

Selectman Joseph Higgins, who along with Trista Milici, coordinated the event, gave a moving speech to the crowd.

Higgins was a New York City firefighter for more than four decades and was at Ground Zero on 9-11, serving in his role as special assistant to the NYC fire commissioner.

An emotional Higgins told the crowd in Branford: “I was there. It was tough day for a lot of people. These were horrible, horrible attacks.”

Higgins told the crowd to not forget the first responders, police and firefighters who lost their lives that day trying to help those who were attacked.

“They gave everything they had because they loved their country,” Higgins said, who added that Branfordites should take a minute when they see a Branford firefighter or cop “to just say thanks for what you do for us.”

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove said the 9-11 ceremony and the big crowd in attendance “is one of the many events we hold that makes our community a special place.”

“We come together to honor the many who lost their lives on 9-11,” Cosgrove said. “We must never forget.”

Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney reminded the crowd that “the death toll is really unknown,” stating the number of people who have been impacted by the toxic dust caused by the plane crashes “has been estimated to be as much as 400,000.”

The ceremony included patriotic music played by the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps, music by the Branford High School Music Makers, the reading of the Pledge of Allegiance, America the Beautiful, and the playing of the National Anthem.

There was also a moment of silence observed at 8:46 a.m. - the money the first plane hit the Twin Towers in NYC.

Photos by Jack Kramer