Hopkinton To Hold 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

HOPKINTON, MA —A 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will take place on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Town Common at the gazebo.

Old Guard New England, American Legion Post 202 and the Veterans Celebration Committee are organizing the event.

All first responders who lost their lives on 9/11 will be remembered along with the 13 service members who died last month in Afghanistan. Additionally, 39 Hopkinton veterans who died from COVID-19 in the past year will be recognized, said Don MacNeill, founder of Old Guard New England.

"We will ring the bell 3 times/4 times/3 times for the 343 firefighters who died on 9/11; we will ring it 2 times/9 times/1 time for the 291 law enforcement personnel who died on 9/11; we will ring the bell 1 time/3 times for the 13 service members who recently died in Afghanistan; and we will ring it three times/9 times for the Hopkinton veterans who died from COVID-19," MacNeill said.

Three flags will be folded during the ceremony, and one will be presented to the Hopkinton Police Department, one to the Hopkinton Fire Department and one to the senior center, according to MacNeill.

Speakers will include Rep. Carolyn Dykema and Michael Whalen, adjutant for American Legion Post 202.

MacNeill said he expects the Hopkinton High School band to perform and local students to give readings during the ceremony as well.

A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 12, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Town Common at the gazebo.