Dedham Commemorates 9/11 Victims On 20th Anniversary

DEDHAM, MA - Dozens of residents gathered at the fire station in Dedham Square Saturday to honor the memories of the victims of 9/11 on the 20th anniversary of the national tragedy.

Fire Chief William Spillane led the solemn event. His message to the crowd was emphatic: "Never forget."

"Thank you all for being here this morning as we pause to remember the tragic events that took place 20 years ago today," he said. "I'm sure that many of you, just like me, remember exactly what you were doing and where you were on that day 20 years ago."

He recalled watching President George W. Bush on the day of the terrorist attacks reading to a classroom of schoolchildren in Sarasota, Florida. Closer to home, he said that many of Dedham's current first responders were in school themselves.

"It was a great day until a group of 19 terrorists hijacked four planes," Spillane continued, giving detailed accounts of the two planes that left Logan Airport just after 8 a.m. headed for Los Angeles, crashing into the Twin Towers. The third flight left Washington, DC for Los Angeles at around the same time but was deliberately flown into the Pentagon by hijackers about an hour and 17 minutes later.

The most poignant account Spillane recalled was of United Airlines Flight 93, when passengers prevented hijackers from their mission to collide the plane into the United States Capitol. Instead, it crashed in Pennsylvania.

"This was a heroic action taken by the passengers on board who fought with their attackers, not allowing them to reach their intended target of the U.S. Capitol," he said.

While a total of 2,977 people lost their lives on that day, Spillane also stressed the number of first responders who have been affected over the past two decades by respiratory ailments, cancer and mental challenges from the trauma.

"It is estimated that over 2,900 of these workers have succumbed to their illnesses since 2001," he said, noting that more than 7,000 soldiers also have died in post-9/11 wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and other nations.

"Never forget," he said.

Suicide has claimed another 30,177 lives of veterans and active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces who were impacted by the national tragedy.

"As we pause today to remember all of the victims and their families," Spillane continued, "let us especially remember the 343 members of the New York City Fire Department, 23 members of the New York City Police Department, 37 members of the Port Authority Police Department and eight New York City EMT paramedics - all first responders who gave their lives while attempting to save the lives of others on that fateful day."

As attendees stood by with heads bowed, a firefighter rang the bell outside the fire station in a repeated series of five tones in honor of the sacrifice of the numerous heroes who died as a result of 9/11. The flag was lowered to half-staff to mark the poignancy of the day.

After Spillane read "The Firefighters Prayer," Charlie Kanelos, the cantor at St. Susanna Parish, sang a stirring rendition of "God Bless America," moving some in the crowd to join him while others fought back tears.