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Date: 9/20/2023
AGAWAM — At a 9/11 remembrance ceremony on the morning of the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks, speakers stressed unity and resilience, while encouraging attendees to share emotions and stories with the younger generation. The event was held at Agawam’s main fire station, where there is a monument to the victims and first responders.
Fire Chief Alan Sirois said that he realized that “the old guys and girls” like him recall 9/11 clearly, unlike younger firefighters who were too young to understand the terror attacks when they happened in 2001 — or not even born yet. He said it was essential to share personal history and memories surrounding the attacks and their aftermath.
“Reflecting and paying tribute to the almost 3,000 lives lost is not enough if we fail to relay the depth of fear, anger, and anguish that was experienced by our nation on that day,” he said. “Failing to share our history, the depth of our emotions surrounding this tragedy paves a road to a future of ambiguity.”
Sirois encouraged attendees to remember that freedom doesn’t come without sacrifice. “The future of our nation relies on remembering and ensuring that all that come after us understand,” he said.
The Rev. Harvey Hill of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Feeding Hills reflected on the unity between Americans after the attacks in 2001. In the days and weeks after, he said, American flags flew everywhere, and people came together to help.
“I found that inspiring,” he said. “It seemed like people, for at least a little bit, forgot about the trivial things often that divide us and remembered those founding ideals.”
Hill recalled an example of unity from when he was living in Georgia. At the end of their Ramadan fast, the local Muslim community invited religious leaders to partake in a feast of unity.
“Their goal was to show us, their non-Muslim neighbors, that they too condemn the attacks as an unjustifiable atrocity, that they too wanted to come together and share commitment to American ideals, and that they thought of themselves very much as patriots who are grieving.” he said.
However, the unity of that night didn’t last. Hill said he was reabsorbed with work, family, and church; divisions in the country also began to resurface. He told attendees it was important to remember that “we really are one nation under God.”
“When we are attacked,” he said, “we can come together and we can respond and we can show that kind of resilience, that fortitude, that resoluteness, in defense of our values and in defense of our country. So, it remains my prayer that we can hold onto that memory forever.”
The ceremony concluded with a custom from the New York City Fire Department known as “striking the four fives.” Sirois explained that before radios and telephones, announcements would be relayed to firehouses through bell ringing and telegraphs. The death of a firefighter was announced with four sets of five bell strikes. This custom lives on to pay final respects.
At the ceremony, the Fire Department struck the four fives to honor those who sacrificed their lives on 9/11. This was followed by the recital of the Firefighter’s Prayer.