THE CITY REMEMBERS
Norwalk honors 14 residents killed in 9/11 terrorist attacks
NORWALK — Paul Dario Curioli. Ronald Gilligan. Edwin John Graf III. William C. Hunt. Thomas E. Hynes. Adam J. Lewis. Edward Francis “Teddy” Maloney III. Cesar A. Murillo. Robert Walter Noonan. James Matthew Patrick. George E. Spencer III. Derek James Stakevicus. Bradley H. Vadas. John Bentley Works.
Those were 14 people remembered on Wednesday morning as Norwalk paused to remember the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Norwalk residents were among 2,900 people who died in the attacks.
Mayor Harry Rilling said during the annual remembrance ceremony outside City Hall that the day 18 years ago, started very similar to this one, with bright sun shining and warm temperatures.
“As they left that morning and said goodbye to their loved ones, nobody had any idea they weren’t coming home,” Rilling said.
While the day was filled with tragedies and horror, Rilling said there were also signs of hope and resilience.
“On that day, we saw something remarkable,” he said.
“We saw other heroes born that day.”
He recounted the stories of those, beyond the traditional first responders taking risks to save others, including the passengers of Flight 93 who took control of the aircraft from the terrorists.
Rabbi Ita Paskind of Temple Beth El called on the crowd of more than 70 people in attendance to keep the memories of those who died that day alive as time continues to pass.
“An entire generation has grown up in the shadow of the attacks we remember today,” she said.
Those who were born in 2001 and have no memory of a life before that day are now in college, Paskind said, so those who remember it must pass those memories and continue to provide support for the families who lost someone that day.
“We know that any attack on America is an attack on all of us,” she said.
Jonathan Peters, a local musician sang the National Anthem, “God Bless America” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Norwalk police Sgt. Greg Scully also performed “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.
The Joint Honor Guard of the Norwalk fire and police departments performed the retiring of colors and posting of a new American flag, which had the names of the victims of the attack on it.
The Rev. Jeffrey Ingraham, pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, asked everyone to “be mindful of the loved ones left behind.”
“We pray that each of us may become agents of peace (and) love,” he said.
Rilling said remembrance ceremonies like these are important for the nation to “keep its promise” to “never forget” what happened that day.
“The terrorists thought that they could cripple us,” he said. “They made us stronger.”