Ceremony to mark 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacks

The ceremony will honor the memories of residents Michael Miller, Avnish Patel and Seth Morris, who died in the attacks 20 years ago.

MILFORD — The city will mark the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on Saturday, Sept. 11, with a ceremony of song and prayer at the Sept. 11 monument at City Hall.

Police Chief Doug Edo will be sounding the Fire Department’s Memorial Bell at 8:46 a.m.

The ceremony will honor the memories of residents Michael Miller, Avnish Patel and Seth Morris, who died in the attacks 20 years ago.

Mayor Ben Blake is asking everyone to pause for a moment of remembrance in honor of those who died as well as to honor the courage of those who participated in rescue efforts.

Residents unable to attend the ceremony may visit memorial sites around town, including the Memorial Garden at Live Oaks Elementary, Flight 93 Heroes Park along the Housatonic River, the memorial benches in the pocket park between Eli’s Restaurant and Café Atlantique on Daniel Street, and the monument at Fire Station 7 on Wheelers Farm Road that displays a portion of the actual steel structure from the World Trade Center.

Morris was 35 when he died. He was a managing director for Cantor Fitzgerald, an investment company with offices in Tower One. He lived in Kinnelon, N.J., with his wife, Lynn Bailey, and their children Madilynn, Kyle, and Hayley.

Morris was a hero in the 1993 World Trade Center terrorist attack, carrying a pregnant woman more than 90 floors to safety. The Morrises lived on Wheeler’s Farm Road in Milford until 1987.

Miller, 39, graduated from Joseph A. Foran High in 1980 and was named best athlete. He lettered in football, basketball and track. He was a partner at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 105th floor of Tower One. He lived in Englewood, N.J. His No. 12 jersey was retired by Foran after his death.

Miller’s parents set up a scholarship at Foran High in their son’s honor.

Patel, 28, was a research analyst focusing on health care companies for Fred Alger Management. He was working on the 93rd floor of Tower One when the plane hit.

Patel came to Milford when he was 13, leaving his family in London and boarding a plane to New York. He lived with Raj and Meena Patel in Milford at their Depot Road home.

Patel attended Live Oaks Elementary School for a year and spent two years at Joseph A. Foran High School. He moved to New York to be with his older brother, Yogesh, and graduated from high school there. He then attended the Stern School of Business at New York University.