SHREWSBURY – On Monday morning, community members gathered at the new Shrewsbury Police Station to commemorate the 22-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Penn.
The event – which featured prayers and speeches from law enforcement officials – was an opportunity for people to reflect on the tragedy. Approximately 2,997 innocent people lost their lives on 9/11, including 343 New York City firefighters, 23 New York City police officers, and 37 Port Authority police officers. To date, 241 New York City police officers and 306 New York City firefighters have passed away from 9/11-related illnesses.
“There are rare events in our history that are so deeply affecting, that those of us who live through them are forever changed. The details of the event forever imprinted upon our hearts and minds,” Police Chief Kevin Anderson said at the ceremony.
The ceremony honored the first responders who gave their lives to help others. The Firefighter’s Prayer and the Police Officer’s Prayer were read at the event.
“The actions taken by every single one of these fallen brothers and sisters make us proud to be first responders, and reaffirm in each of us the core values that inspire and drive us in the performance of our duties,” Anderson said.
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While the ceremony was filled with commemoration and reflection, it also looked into the future. The police department unveiled and dedicated a new sculpture that “people will be able to visit for years and generations to come to pay respect and honor sacrifices made.”
The sculpture is made of a piece of steel obtained from the rubble of the World Trade Center.
“When considering the construction of our new police station, all involved felt it was of the utmost importance to include a memorial to those who exemplified selfless bravery and sacrifice on 9/11,” Anderson said.
Under the guidance of instructor and retired Navy Chief Neil Mansfield, seven students from the Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School’s metal fabrication program were able to create the piece. Five of the students – Amber MacConnell, Owen Garron, Malorie Baldinger, Ben Kelly, and Trevor Sarsfield – unveiled the memorial during the ceremony.
“I found it a distinct pleasure working with the students on this project. Though they were not alive at the time of the 9/11 attacks, these students listened as people told them their own stories and accounts of that day. They met with members of the generation who lived through a defining, world-changing event,” Anderson said.
“I was truly impressed with the… skill of these students,” he added. “They are extremely talented, and their work far exceeded my expectations. They put their hearts into this project and created a beautiful, lasting memorial.”
