Many ‘still giving’ 20 years after 9/11

Remembrance held at fire department’s memorial

TORRINGTON — A group of 20 students from St. John Paul the Great Academy joined more than 100 residents Saturday for a 9/11 memorial service Saturday at the North End Fire Station, where a rusty steel beam from the World Trade Center’s north tower lobby is on permanent display.

“It’s a sad time,” Torrington firefighter Timothy O’Donnell said, as he addressed the students during the event. “But it’s also a time to be with your family and your friends and just be a little bit nicer to each other, because there’s just not enough of that.”

He said none of the students were old enough to recall the terror attacks of 20 years earlier, and said the attacks were carried out by people who did not like America.

Fire department chaplain Chip Warner told the assembled crowd that many emergency responders gave their lives responding to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

“Many are still giving to this day,” he said. “But out of a great loss can come reason to celebrate.” t

Torrington Police Chief William Baldwin said that in addition to the 2,752 Americans killed the day of the attacks, 328 have died since then from injuries or illnesses.

“Today is promised to no one,” Baldwin said.

Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone said the attacks shaped our lives. “We must always be vigilant,’ she said.

Rep. Jay M. Case, R-63, and state Rep. Michele Cook, D-65, were also guests at the fire department’s annual ceremony at the

firehouse.

Case thanked the military for their service, and Cook recalled some of the events of that day. “Each moment, something changed. Lives were lost. We will never be the same,” she said.

The 40-minute ceremony was capped with a lighting of candles and a ringing of a bell to commemorate lives lost. Bagpipers from Police Pipes and Drums of Waterbury played “How Great Thou Art.”

Twelve years ago, the fire department was offered a chance to have a piece of one of the Twin Towers. Members said at the time that New York City put out a notice that if anyone wanted a piece of one of the towers, they were invited to come and get it, and that a local contractor offer to pick up the beam and deliver it to the North End station.

Torrington received a 12-foot rusted beam from the north tower’s lobby, and installed it outside the firehouse that year with a commemorative plaque. A collection of small flags are also placed on the ground around the memorial to remember the victims of the attacks.

Jack Sheedy / Contributed photo Torrington firefighter Timothy O’Donnell, seated left, explains events of Sept. 11, 2001, to students from St. John Paul the Great Academy at a ceremony at the North Firehouse on Main Street in Torrington during the city’s annual memorial ceremony.

Jack Sheedy / Contributed photo A ceremony was held Saturday marking the 20th anniversary of 9/11, at the Torrington Fire Department’s North Firehouse on Main Street.

Members of Police Pipes and Drums of Waterbury prepare to perform at a ceremony at Torrington’s North End Fire Station honoring victims of 9/11.