Burlington Holding Ceremony For 20th Anniversary Of 9/11 Attacks

BURLINGTON, MA — A ceremony to remember those lost in the September 11, 2001 attacks will be held in Burlington Common marking the 20th anniversary of the brutal attacks.

In addition to honoring those lost, the Burlington community wants to thank and recognize first responders who serve Burlington today.

The ceremony is designed to help reinforce the words spoken in the aftermath of 9/11: "We Shall Never Forget."

The Town will reveal a new memorial on the Common, designed in the shape of the Pentagon.

The memorial will surround the current memorial, two rails that were located beneath the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

The ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 11, starting at 9 a.m.

The ceremony will remember:

• Thomas F. McGuinness Jr., a co-pilot on American Airlines Flight 11
• Robert Jay Hayes, a 1981 Burlington High School graduate, and a passenger on Flight 11
• James Trentini, a Burlington High School teacher, and his wife, Mary Trentini, who were passengers on Flight 11
• Ryan D. Fortini, a 1995 Burlington High School graduate, and N.Y. State Trooper, who passed away from occupational cancer related to his search and rescue assignment to the World Trade Center site following the collapse of the Twin Towers.

Wreaths will be placed on the Town Common in their honor.

The Burlington High School Chorus will perform during the ceremony, while the Burlington High School Marching Band will play the Call to Colors and Taps. Bagpiper Joe McGrath will also play and local town officials will speak.

The ceremony will end with the "Tolling of the Bells," a fire service tradition that reflects honor and respect. The first set of five bells will symbolize when the first tower collapsed, while the second set of five bells will symbolize when the second tower collapsed.

Burlington will be observing all state COVID-19 protocols, including masking and physical distancing, that are in effect on the day of the event.