The Plympton Police and Fire Departments held a ceremony in remembrance of 9/11.
Nineteen years after the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, a remembrance ceremony was held in front of Town Hall.
Fire Chief Steve Silva said some people focus on the tragedy, but so many lives were saved when first responders answered the call.
“There was upwards of over 50,000 people, not only in the towers, but in the general area. When those towers collapsed, it was beyond just the footprint of the tower itself – it was blocks and blocks of the city,” said Silva. “You look at the numbers of the people that survived is staggering, absolutely staggering. I think sometimes we need to focus on the positive as well. To say it was the greatest rescue in the history of mankind, I think those numbers stand.”
After a short procession from the fire station, the flag in front of Town Hall was lowered to half staff. Bells were rung in honor of the last alarm for firefighters.
“Please don’t forget. It’s 19 years, next year will be 20. As the years go by, I think the memories fade,” said Silva. “For some of us, the emotions don’t.”
In what Silva described as a crossroads for the country, he spoke about the importance of not moving on from 9/11 — but moving up.
“It seems to me, and this is just personal reflection, that we’re taking our history, some of which some of us have lived through, and moving away from it. Moving on from it with the thought that if we move on, things would be so much better. I disagree with that,” said Silva.
“I think we need to take our history, embrace our history, whether it’s good or bad and move up from that point. Make that a foundation to move from. When you move on – you’re walking away. When you move up – you’re building a foundation.”
Plympton Fire Chief Steve Silva led the 9/11 memorial ceremony. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
The Plympton Police and Fire Departments formed a procession from the fire station. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
Plympton firefighters Paul Skarinka and Steven Fennell lower the flag to half staff. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
Mark Madonna, Jr. from the Plympton Fire Department rang bells to recognize the last alarm for firefighters. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
