Westfield honor guard brings the fire and police to attention.
Reminder Publishing photos by Amy Porter
WESTFIELD — On Sept. 11, 2026, at both the 10 a.m. remembrance at the Westfield Fire Department on 34 Broad St. and the 11 a.m. service in 9/11 Memorial Park, the city of Westfield kept its pledge to never forget the sacrifices made and the victims lost 25 years ago.
At the first remembrance ceremony, Fire Chief Eric Bishop welcomed families and friends, Mayor Michael McCabe and the members of the Westfield City Council, state Sen. John Velis, state Rep. Kelly Pease and, most importantly, he said, “the firefighters and police officers who serve and protect.”
Bishop said that 25 years ago 343 firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice. “They were from different companies, but one brotherhood. 9/11 is not just a date,” he said. “Here in Westfield, every day, we understand that commitment. We have not forgotten; we will never forget.”
Fire and police were then brought to attention, the flag was lowered to half-staff, and a moment of silence was observed.
Prayers were read by Capt. Keith Supinski and Firefighter Matthew Medeiros. Before the ceremony, both men said they were two of only four firefighters in the group that morning who had been on duty 25 years earlier; the other two were firefighter Scott Bullock and Deputy Chief Seth Ellis. All four participated in the ceremony.
Deputy Chief Seth Ellis rang the bell, the “Four Fives”, which he explained signified firefighters lost in the line of duty. Firefighter Steve Makos played the bagpipes as the formation was dismissed. Bullock and fellow firefighter Devun Nadeau lowered the flag to half-staff.
At the 9/11 Memorial, Mayor Michael McCabe welcomed city councilors, city department heads and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Velis, Pease and state Rep. Michael Finn, all of whom were invited to speak. However, McCabe said all of them were not as important as the family members and first responders who were present.
McCabe said Sept. 11, 2026, was a beautiful day — just like 25 years ago — picture perfect.
“Like so many of you, I remember exactly where I was. Memory stays with us, and shapes us. Why we’re here is to remember Tara Shea Creamer, Brian Joseph Murphy, Daniel Patrick Trant and Thomas Holohan.” Holohan was a New York City firefighter whose widow and three children moved to Westfield after 9/11.
McCabe said that he was present at the dedication of the 9/11 Memorial in Westfield, and said it was fitting that the new police station will now stand opposite it. “It matters that this memorial will always be watched over and cared for,” he said.
Neal, who joined McCabe at the 9/11 Memorial, said Westfield does as good a job of remembering as anywhere in the country. He called 9/11 a moment of moral clarity for the police community in New York City. “They were innocents, getting on with their day-to-day obligations – not enemy combatants. Thank you to the City of Westfield for staying with it,” Neal said.
Among the speakers were members of the Shea, Trant and Murphy families, all of whom also expressed their appreciation to Westfield for never forgetting.
Katie Shea, who introduced herself as the wife of Brian Shea, brother to Tara Shea Creamer, said the family lost Tara at the age of 30. “It doesn’t feel like it’s been 25 years. On each anniversary, we are transported back in time. We remember every detail. Many memories fade; this one never does — the grief and tragedy remain. We can choose to focus on pain or on love,” she said.
She said the Shea family was deeply grateful to the community of Westfield. “You never let us carry it alone … from the first heartbreaking days to the 25th anniversary. You have truly kept the promise; we will never forget.”
Matthew Trant, brother of Daniel Trant, said he had, in the past, let his family be represented by his mother and sister. “I came because you are here,” he said, adding that he wished the phrase ‘never forget’ meant the same thing to everyone.
“I’ll tell you what happened: my brother was murdered at his desk,” he said. “I wanted to come back to say thank you, especially to the police and fire departments because of what you did. You guys are my heroes.”
Trant also addressed Neal. “What you did for the Trant family – you went to bat for us,” he said, adding that without Neal’s help, the family wouldn’t have survived. He thanked everyone for continuing to remember.
Finally, Ann Murphy spoke on behalf of the Murphy family. She said 25 years ago was the last time that she heard Brian’s voice, when they spoke on the phone, and he talked about his girls. She said his oldest daughter just completed her last year of medical school and will be doing a rotation in emergency medical services. His other daughter, a preschooler at the time, is studying law and will be apprenticing with a chief justice.
“We are truly grateful that you never let anyone forget,” Murphy said.
At 6 p.m. that evening, the Sons of Erin also observed the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with a ceremony and reception to remember the Westfield victims.
A Fire Department truck hoists the American flag.
Reminder Publishing photos by Amy Porter
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