Burlington Gathers For 9/11 Anniversary Ceremony

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington community members gathered on the Town Common on Sunday for a ceremony to mark the 21st anniversary of the September 11th Attacks in 2001.

Now more than two decades after the attacks, the town’s latest ceremony included remarks from Burlington Fire Chief Michael Patterson, a flag raising, and a ceremonial tolling of the bell, among other things.

“Never forget those who lost their lives on Sept. 11,” Patterson said. “Never forget those that sacrificed their lives on Sept. 11.”

Burlington lost at least four community members in the attacks. Those included Robert J. Hayes, Jim and Mary Trentini and Thomas McGuinness Jr.

Lance Corporal Gregory MacDonald of Burlington was later killed while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq in 2003.

Ryan Fortini, also of Burlington, then died in 2020 due to illness deemed to be related to recovery work in the wake of 9/11.

Attendees on Sunday paused for a moment of silence for those individuals and the thousands of others killed either on Sept. 11, 2001, or in the aftermath of the attacks.

As Burlington gathered, it joined communities across the state and the country this weekend in reflecting on 9/11 and its impacts.

Nearby Woburn, Melrose, Malden and Reading all held ceremonies on Sunday, among other communities.