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by Amy Palmer and Trevor Meek
IPSWICH and ROWLEY — Never forget.
This is the promise the country has made: to never, ever forget September 11, 2001, when nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the deadliest terror attack in history on U.S. soil.
Twenty-four years later, Ipswich and Rowley have upheld that promise. Both towns held somber ceremonies early Thursday morning in honor of all those lost that day.
Rowley
In Rowley, many will never forget the loss of Laurie Olsen Neira and Jim and Mary Trentini, fire chaplain Ed Smith said.
The Trentinis lived in Rowley and were flying out to babysit three grandchildren in California. Neira, who lived in Los Angeles, was returning from a visit to Rowley to help her mother move.
All three were on American Airlines Flight 11, which was hijacked and crashed into the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. Everyone on board died instantly.
Quoting the words of 9/11 survivor Bryan Clark, Smith reminded memorial attendees that life is precious and it can be gone in a moment.
“We should thank God for every day that He gives us and live with Him in view,” Smith said. “Each day is a gift from Him.”
And as she reminded attendees to remember everyone who died in the attacks, select chair Sheri David urged Rowley residents to also think of all the lives that first responders saved.
Countless police officers, firefighters, and EMS knew they were going into a situation they may never return from, and they went anyway, she said.
A former dispatcher, David said she couldn’t imagine losing any Rowley officers or firefighters, who are family to her, much less sending them into a situation like the one on 9/11. But she knows they have the same courage and willingness to risk their lives for others.
“Our first responders continue with bravery and determination. They proved it several weeks ago when pulling victims from a working fire,” David said. “We are blessed to have you as part of our community.”
That is the challenge for all of us, Smith said — to live “in such a way that we are prepared to seize the moment in the hour of crisis when it comes.”
Ipswich
In Ipswich, police officers and firefighters were joined by citizens, local veterans, and select board members as they paid tribute to the first responders and innocent victims who lost their lives in the attacks.
Sen. Bruce Tarr and Rep. Kristin Kassner were also in attendance for the ceremony.
“We gather to honor those loved ones who perished on that clear September morning,” said Charles Moore, vestry member of Ascension Memorial Church. “We honor, as well, those first responders who suffered in the days following 9/11.”
According to government statistics, 441 first responders died on the morning of September 11, 2001. In the years since the attacks, the number of first responders who have died from illnesses related to toxic dust exposure at Ground Zero has surpassed the number killed on the day of the attacks.
“Give us grace and courage, dear God, to follow the example of the good shepherds among us,” Moore said, leading a prayer. “Help us to act bravely to extinguish with your love the hatred that fuels acts of senseless terror.”
“May what we do today, and what we do with the days we have left, be a tribute to those lost on 9/11, yet who still abide within our hearts,” he added.
