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Dozens of Westford residents along with town and public safety officials gathered in the courtyard next to town hall on Sept. 11, to observe the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on U.S. soil that took the lives of 2,977 men, women and children.
Veterans Service Officer Ryan Cobleigh emceed the event which included a moment of silence, poetry readings, and the sounding of Last Call. Deputy Fire Chief Dan Britko and Police Chief Tom McEnaney read the Firefighters and Police Officers Prayer respectively followed by chairman of the Westford Monument Committee, Nancy Cook, who read a emotion inducing rendition of the poem “One” by Cheryl Sawyer.
State Rep. James Arciero reminded those in attendance to never forget.
“Today, 18 years later, we honor those courageous men and women who put themselves in harm’s way, who sacrificed their own lives, to help people that they never knew. The first responders, the police, the firefighters, those brave men and women, who led our efforts, following these tragics events, followed by our uniformed brothers and sisters who took up arms against the perpetrators. September 11, 2001 was a day in the history of our nation that should never be forgotten. Eighteen years may seem like a long time but for those families of the victims left behind, their loss and their pain, have not receded…..here in Westford and across our great nation, we will never forget the lives taken on that fateful day and the many who have passed from the health effects and trauma the last 18 years.”
Board of Selectmen Chair, Elizabeth Almeida, shared her thoughts. “As we reflect on that day and the years since, we recognize that we cannot stop the evil in the world, but we can choose how to respond. In the days after 9/11, I remember a country united to support those who were wounded and grieving. Political differences were put aside for the sake of caring for neighbors and strangers. Stores sold out of American flags. We were focused on what unites us, instead of what divides us.”
Westford Honor Guards were also in attendance as was Congresswoman Lori Trahan’s District Director, Emily Byrne.
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