Greenwich Marks 24th Anniversary Of 9/11 With Moving Ceremony

GREENWICH, CT — Under bright blue skies and warm summer sunshine Thursday morning, the Greenwich community gathered at Cos Cob Park to mark the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

A crowd of over 100 people — including numerous elected officials, first responders, and the Greenwich Police Honor Guard — joined together in the parking lot of the park near the 9/11 memorial, which sits on a bluff overlooking Long Island Sound and displays the 33 names of those with ties to Greenwich who died in the attacks.

Cannons were fired to observe the moments when planes struck the World Trade Center, Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pa., as well as when the twin towers collapsed. There was also a water salute from the Greenwich Police Marine Division.

Greenwich resident Harry Fisher, who lost his older brother Bennett Lawson Fisher on 9/11, was the keynote speaker. Harry wore the same clothes he was wearing to work in Stamford 24 years ago on that fateful day.

On 9/11, Ben was working for Fiduciary Trust International, which occupied several upper floors in the south tower -- the second tower to be hit by a hijacked plane, but the first to collapse at 9:59 a.m.

Harry was following the news in his office.

"When I saw the first tower fall, I knew Ben was in danger. I left for his house to man the phones," Harry said.

Ben's wife, Susan, left her teaching job and came home, and Harry turned the TV off.

"We had a lot of calls and friends coming by, and it was quite a busy day and that was a good distraction. At some point, we heard Ben had not checked in with the call-in line that had been established by Fiduciary Trust after the previous bombing of the Trade Center, so we were very worried. He left his cell phone at home," Harry said.

"By evening when I decided to go home, Susan and I shared a moment in the driveway, and agreed that we were pretty certain we had lost Ben. I felt that God had us and Ben in His hands at that moment."

Harry said his family learned much later that Ben had the opportunity to leave the south tower after helping get people onto elevators at the 44th floor. He was the designated fire marshal for Fiduciary Trust.

"He made it down to the concourse level and apparently encountered some fire personnel. He may have done the same as I would, which is to offer to help," Harry said. "Ben was killed by blunt force trauma when the tower collapsed. We were fortunate to have his remains recovered."

The country rallied in the days and weeks following 9/11, and Harry recalled the support his family has received over the years.

"It is quite unlike anything I've ever witnessed before," he said.

The last time Harry saw Ben was a few days before he died. Both volunteers in town, the two had talked about their last fundraising effort to save what is now called Fisher Field on Round Hill Road. They were also looking ahead to their next preservation project - the Great Captain Island lighthouse.

Following 9/11, Greenwich residents later donated money in Ben's memory to help preserve the lighthouse, and a plaque memorializing the Greenwich victims was placed out in front.

Harry's daughter, Morgan, read the names of the 33 victims with Greenwich ties at Thursday's ceremony, and state Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-36) rang a memorial bell.

First Selectman Fred Camillo also spoke briefly Thursday about the importance of remembrance ceremonies. Thursday's event marked the 10th ceremony at Cos Cob Park.

"Twenty-four years ago this morning, thousands of people woke up to go to work, never to return home. Hundreds of our first responders got up to go to work, never to return home. We know the evil behind the cowardly act that took their lives is still here today, it still exists in the world. That's why these events, these ceremonies, these remembrances are critically important," Camillo said. "I think we really not only owe it to those who perished on 9/11, but we owe it to ourselves."

Stephanie Dunn Ashley, the CEO of the American Red Cross Metro New York North Chapter, helped lead Thursday's ceremony.

"Sept. 11 was a day of unimaginable loss, but it also revealed a deep strength, unity and resilience of the American people. Strangers became neighbors, communities came together and a nation stood tall in the face of sorrow," Dunn Ashley said. "Let this service not only be a time of remembrance, but also a moment of reflection on the preciousness of life, the power of unity, and the enduring spirit of those who we lost."

Thursday's ceremony also featured various musical performances.

Following remarks, attendees made their way up the winding path and laid flowers at the base of the twin glass towers.

The Glenville Volunteer Fire Company was slated to hold its annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.