Flanders residents joined members of the Flanders Fire Department at Fireman’s Memorial Park on Flanders Road Friday evening for a brief memorial ceremony.
Flanders Fire Department Chaplain Aiden Roche led the service, beginning with a prayer. Then he recalled the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
“On that day, our nation was shaken, our lives were forever changed, and thousands of innocent men and women were taken from us far too soon,” Roche said.
“Today, we honor three groups whose lives and sacrifices will never be forgotten: the victims, the first responders, and especially the firefighters who ran towards danger when others were running away,” he said. “The victims of that tragic day were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, friends, and colleagues. Each of them had dreams, hopes, and futures that were stolen in an instant. We say their names, we tell their stories, and we promise to carry their memory forward so that they live on through us,” he said.
“We also remember the first responders, the police officers, EMTs, paramedics, and ordinary citizens who stepped forward in the face of chaos. They worked tirelessly, without hesitation, to save lives, bring order, and provide comfort. Their courage reminds us that even in the darkest hours, humanity shines its brightest, and we hold in special honor for the firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice. They climbed the towers, knowing the risks, yet unwilling to turn back.
“They embodied what it truly means to serve, to put others above self, even when the cost is everything. Their legacy is written in the lives they saved, and in the enduring respect and gratitude of a nation” he said.
“But 9/11 is not only about loss, it is also about resilience. In these days and years that followed, we witnessed the strength of community, the healing power of kindness, and the unbreakable spirit of the American people,” Roche said.
“Let us remember, not only that what was taken from us, but also what we found within ourselves: courage, unity, and an unyielding commitment to never forget,” he said.
“To the families who still carry the weight of grief, we stand with you, To the firefighters and first responders who continue to serve, we thank you. And to the victims whose lives we honor, may their memory be a blessing, and may we live each day in a way that honors their legacy,” he said. “May God bless the fallen. May God bless the families left behind, and may God bless this nation we love.”
Fifty-five-year Flanders Fire Department member Joseph Cavaluzzi laid a memorial wreath at the base of the monument made from steel recovered at the World Trade Center site.
Reporting and photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr.
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