LONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow community has rallied together to raise $3,000 in less than three days for the First Church of Christ’s installation of a red-granite bench in its memorial garden to permanently memorialize native Jean D. Rogér, 25 years after she died on Sept. 11, 2001.
Rogér grew up in Longmeadow and graduated from Longmeadow High School as a golfer and swimmer. She was 24 years old and a stand-by flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, which struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower.
She is currently remembered in the church’s memorial garden with a wooden bench. Since the community raised $3,000 for the granite bench so quickly, all future proceeds will go toward improving the garden to help preserve the space for remembrance, reflection and peace.
First Church of Christ Senior Pastor Reverend Doug Bixby said it’s a church tradition to remember Rogér and all the victims on Sept. 11.
“We’ve taken care of the wooden bench by oiling it every year,” Bixby said. “Given that it’s the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, we thought it would make sense to remember her with a granite bench that would last forever.”
Bixby said it’s hard to believe that 25 years have gone by and that the day had a huge impact on the church and entire community.
“Doing something on a more permanent basis feels not only good, but right,” Bixby said. “It was evident that the wood bench wasn’t gonna make it, so we found what we believe is the right way to remember her and to honor her. On the bench it will say, ‘in loving memory of Jean Rogér and all the victims of Sept. 11.’”
He added that the whole church community is glad to be able to have the opportunity of remembering Rogér in “the most permanent way.”
“It symbolizes something significant, the significance of the loss and, obviously, Sept. 11 impacted all of us who were present for it,” Bixby said. “It was a huge loss for our community. I didn’t know her personally, but I know the ripple effects and how people talk about her and remember her on that day, and how meaningful that is.”
Former First Church Pastor Gary DeLong said she was “the kind of kid who just had it all together” and her loss left a big mark on the community.
“She was sweet, just a caring kid,” DeLong said. “Everybody loved her and she just lived her life to the fullest. It was so heartbreaking to lose her the way we did.”
The church invites the community for a remembrance ceremony in the memorial garden on Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. to pay tribute to Rogér and all of the near 3,000 victims. First Church of Christ is located at 763 Longmeadow St.
Donations can be made by scanning a QR code on the church’s Facebook, @FirstChurchofChristinLongmeadow,UCC. Checks can also be mailed to the church with the memo, “Jean Roger memorial.”
