Southwick Fire Department Chief Richard Stefanowicz (at podium) offers remarks during a ceremony Thursday at the firehouse to remember the first responders and civilians killed on Sept. 11, 2001.
Reminder Publishing photo by Cliff Clark
SOUTHWICK — To ensure that the memory of those nearly 3,000 souls who were lost at the hands of hate-filled terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, each year since the nation gathers at firehouses across this country to mark the anniversary and remember the sacrifices of those first responders who rushed into New York’s Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the bravery of the passengers on Flight 93 who stopped another attack.
“On a bright morning, such as this, 24 short years ago, our nation was shaken by an unspeakable act of terror. What a coincidence that the numbers that we dial in our most desperate moments, 911, are also the date of our greatest national emergency. On [Sept.] 11, 2001, Lady Liberty had to make that desperate call. Thousands of her first responders answered that call,” said Diane Gale, the chair of the Select Board during the 9/11 ceremony hosted at the Fire Department.
“She watched while they saved untold numbers of people, yet nearly 3,000 lives were still lost that day, including 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers and 55 military personnel who boldly and courageously rushed into an unfolding massive chaos,” Gale said.
As the events of that day grow fainter in the rearview mirror of our nation’s history, Gale spoke of the importance of teaching the generations who weren’t alive during that terrible day.
And that even today, there is still work to be done.
“Perhaps this is still too raw and too recent to be included in the lesson plans of 10- to 18-year-olds. And that makes it more important that across this country we come together every year to ensure that the memory of those who were lost and those who served and saved lives is never forgotten,” Gale said.
And she spoke to the first responders who attended the ceremony Thursday.
“Coming here today is a solemn act of honor and recognition. It is a promise to future generations that we will never forget those heroic actions or take their sacrifices for granted,” she said.
Police Chief Rhett Bannish spoke about how the events of that day forever changed policing.
“For police officers, [Sept.] 11, 2001 is not just a national tragedy. It was the day that reshaped local law enforcement’s role in national security and safety. The effects of 9/11 on law enforcement were both immediate and long lasting,” Bannish said, adding “The lessons learned from that day continue to shape policing today.”
Fire Department Chaplain Pastor Dan Valeri also spoke of the importance of remembering.
“Why is it important? Because we are inclined to forget. I think of the tragedy of 9/11. I’m reminded of all the memorials that we have set up to reflect upon that day. It’s one in DC. One in Pennsylvania. There’s one in New York City. There’s even one in Westfield and the World Trade Center site is a haunting memorial with a large black hole matching the footprint of the Twin Towers. It’s waterfalls, black marble and on it, the names of the fallen and remind us of the gravity of that day,” Valeri said.
He then spoke of a “living memorial” to the first responders who died that day.
“But there is another memorial that inspires the living memorial firefighters who have answered the call to emergency services. Did you know that 60 of the 343 firefighters’ children followed their parents’ footsteps after 9/11 and became firefighters themselves. Did you know that all but one of the children of the six firefighters who died in the Worcester Cold Storage Fire became firefighters in the face of great tragedy and trauma. Most would not want anything to do with anything that reminded them of that painful day. But these men and women answered the call and followed in their footsteps of their mothers and fathers. Their lives are a living memorial to them and the importance of fire and emergency services,” he said.
