Twenty-five years after the terror attack on Sept. 11, Massachusetts residents will once again gather together to never forget – here are some of the remembrances to be held across the state.
Boston
In Boston, commemoration events will begin at 8 a.m. with a reading of the 219 people with ties to Massachusetts killed in the terrorist attacks on the steps of the State House.
A moment of silence will follow at 8:46 a.m., when the first plane was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
The keynote address will be delivered by retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Jonathan Treacy, who was the commander of the Otis Air National Guard unit that was the first to scramble fighter jets to respond to the attacks on 9/11.
At 9:25 a.m. in the State House Chambers, officials will show a Massachusetts Remembers video montage of family members and friends sharing their memories of loved ones lost in the 9/11 attacks, followed by a presentation of the Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery and song performed by the granddaughter of a 9/11 victim, accompanied by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
In the Hall of Flags, the State House will host a family and guests luncheon at 11:15 a.m., while a student roundtable occurs in the Senate Reading Room.
“Unite as one to share our memories of that horrific day with the more than 100 million young Americans – 37% of the population – who are too young to remember the events of that day,” Massachusetts 9/11 Fund officials said in an advisory, noting the Massachusetts 25th Annual Commemoration can be streamed online beginning at 8 a.m.
At 11 a.m., Massport will honor the anniversary and rededicate the Boston Logan 9/11 Memorial in front of Hilton Boston Logan, honoring the “Logan airport community for how they responded” following the attack. The event will feature Massport former and current staff, as well as Archbishop of Boston Richard Henning.
Events will follow with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Massachusetts 9/11 Memorial in the Boston Public Garden. The ceremony will be led by Mayor Michelle Wu and members of the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund’s Family Advisory Committee.
At 3:15 p.m., firefighters, pipes and drum bands, and honor guards will process from Boston Common to the fire memorial park located in Ashburton Park at the State House for the Massachusetts Fallen Firefighters Memorial Annual Ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Twenty-seven names of deceased Massachusetts firefighters will be added to the memorial’s Ring of Honor, including Boston firefighter Robert Kilduff Jr.
The memorial “stands tall for eternity as a living tribute to the brave men and women who have, and continue to work day in and day out to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth,” an advisory stated.
Gov. Maura Healey and others will speak, followed by the Kilduff family placing the first rose and roses placed by other families.
From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the parade grounds of the Boston Common, a youth-led “Voices Across 25 Years” commemoration will feature a Boston Children’s Chorus performance, speaking program and the historic American flag mosaic created by more than 40,000 Massachusetts schoolchildren in the aftermath of 9/11.
“Assembled one six-inch square at a time, the flag carries thousands of handwritten messages honoring the victims and heroes of that day and expressing the hopes of a generation of young people,” Empower Peace organizers stated. “Twenty-five years later, today’s students will gather around that same flag to remember, and to look toward the future.”
Dracut
In Dracut, the local fire department will host a ceremony to remember the victims, including the American Airlines pilot of Flight 11, John Ogonowski, who grew up in the town across from the Jones Avenue Fire Station. The fire station now features a 9/11 memorial with a piece of World Trade Center steel.
The town intends to remember “his loss and the way the community came together afterward,” as well as first responders’ sacrifices. The department encouraged all community members to attend to mark the anniversary.
The annual Dracut ceremony begins at the memorial at 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 struck the World Trade Center, and lasts up to 45 minutes, with a wreath-laying and bell-tolling. Some members of the Ogonowski family reported they would attend.
“The September 11 Terrorist Attacks had a profound impact on the Town of Dracut, and we would love to have the community join us as we remember John Ogonowski, his family, and all those lost on that day,” said Dracut Fire Chief Michael Cunha. “We will also remember the firefighters, police officers, and others who sacrificed themselves for others both on that day and in the weeks and months afterward.”
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge has several ceremonies throughout Friday, marking the lives lost, first responders’ sacrifice in the line of duty and years following, and members of the armed forces, city officials said.
At the Robert W. Healy Public Safety Facility in East Cambridge, local first responders will gather at 8:30 a.m. for a joint one-hour ceremony featuring remarks from local officials, bagpipes, a moment of silence and more.
Every Cambridge firehouse will hold a 10-minute synchronized ceremony starting at 9:50 a.m., with personnel and guests gathering at apparatus bay doors, followed by a signal from the Emergency Communications Department, a brief narrative, and a moment of silence.
At dusk, City Hall will light up in sky blue to join the national Tribute in Light remembrance, joining locations including Fenway Park, Prudential Tower and Zakim Bridge.
Cambridge city officials encourage residents to join in person or “take a quiet moment on Friday to reflect on the sacrifices made on September 11, 2001 and the years that followed.”
Hudson
On Sept. 12 and 13, Major Heather “Lucky” Penney will recount her experience on 9/11 at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson at 2 p.m. each day.
On the day of the terror attacks, Penney was one of the F-16 pilots launched from Andrews Air Force Base ordered to intercept United Airlines Flight 93.
“Without time to have their aircraft armed, Penney and her commanding officer took off knowing they might have to intercept the hijacked airliner by ramming it,” the museum stated. “Maj. Penney will share her experience from that day and reflect on service, sacrifice, heroism, and the evolution of America’s air defense mission.”
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Dedham
The Dedham community will mark the anniversary with a “9/11 Beams of Light” ceremony at Barnes Memorial Park beginning at 7 p.m. Friday. The remembrance will feature a reading of names of Massachusetts residents who died in the 9/11 attacks, 2,977 American flags in the field to represent each victim, and personalized Hero Markers honoring service members from the state who’ve died since 9/11.
Following the ceremony, two beams of light will rise above the park at 8 p.m. and remain through midnight.
Saturday morning, the park will host a Massachusetts Run for the Fallen 5K by Military Friends Foundation, starting with a Fallen Hero Honor Roll Ceremony and ending with a family BBQ.
Residents are encouraged to honor the spirit of the National Day of Service and Remembrance by bringing a donation for the Dedham Food Pantry, like shelf-stable foods, personal care items, and special dietary items.
“We gather not only to honor those taken from us on that dark morning, but to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the families of the heroes we continue to lose in the aftermath of that day,” said Sarah Sweeney, executive director of the Military Friends Foundation. “America promises that we will never forget our own. By lighting up Dedham, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the families who carry that burden every single day.”
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