9/11 Patriots Day Service In Framingham

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Sometimes called Patriots Day, Sept. 11 has become a national day of remembrance honoring the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In Framingham, a remembrance service will be held at the September 11th Living Memorial at Cushing Memorial Park on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

The event will include "solemn remarks, a reading of the names on the memorial, a prayer offering, and a presentation of the colors by the Framingham Fire and Police Department Color and Honor Guards," city officials said.

Americans felt a collective trauma as first one and then another plane flew into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. As the truth dawned on people watching from their TVs that America was under attack, another plane took aim at the Pentagon. A fourth was brought down in a field in Pennsylvania in a final act of heroism by passengers who realized their flight had been hijacked.

At least 2,973 people lost their lives in the attacks. The somber anniversary is marked across the country with memorial services, moments of silence and community events.

Seventeen people with Framingham connections were killed on the day, and they are now memorialized on the living memorial in the park.

Their names are Barbara Keating, Linda George, John Wenckus, Lisa Fenn Gordenstein, Meta Fuller Waller, Neilie Heffernan Casey, Paige Farley Hackel, Robin Kaplan, Tara Shea Creamer, Todd Hill, Susan Mackay, Christine Barbuto, Judith Larocque, Laura Lee Morabito, Herbert Homer, Charlie Murphy and Darin Pontell.