Glenville Gathers to Commemorate 14th Anniversary of September 11

A crowd gathered on Friday night outside Glenville Fire Station on Friday night to commemorate the 14th year anniversary of September 11 terrorist attacks on America.

Though many present had also attended had also traveled to Cos Cob earlier in the day for the ribbon cutting and dedication of the September 11 Memorial in Cos Cob Park, there were a number of children at the Glenville event. The Boy Scouts were present in number, as were the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich honor guard.

Outside the Glenville Fire station, a massive I-beam that once held up one of the World Trade Center’s inner floors provided the focal point for the ceremony, which was emceed by Christopher Hughes.

The First Selectman, during his remarks, pointed out that the children present were not yet born when the events of September 11, 2001 took place.

He quoted Don Henley’s song, “The End of the Innocence,” explaining what transpired on that tragic day. The First Selectmen described the events unfathomable.

“Going about your day, going to work, you hear the reports and first get an indication that perhaps it was an accident and only later to learn that it was an intended act meant to create terror and kill,” he said.

Mr. Tesei said what drove home the severity as the attacks as they blossomed from one, to two, to three locations were first-hand reports from Bank of New York colleagues who were attending training in New York City.

Describing the sense of anxiety at the time, Mr. Tesei it was impossible to rule out that the events were the start of World War III. “We had been educated with thoughts of cold war and how war might break out. But never did we fathom anything of this heinous nature,” he said.

Still, he said despite the loss of innocence the sense of resolve is represented by all those present in Glenville on Friday night. “It is so important that each year that we continue to gather, to show the rest of the world that they can never break our resolve,” Tesei said.

One by one, residents approached the memorial outside Glenville Fire Station to place roses at the foot of the memorial fashioned from an I-beam salvaged from the World Trade Center after the attacks in 2001. Credit: Leslie Yager

At the Glenville Fire House, Friday, Sept 11, 2015. Credit: Leslie Yager

Christopher Huges, who emceed the September 11 memorial commemoration in Glenville on Friday, Sept 11, 2015. Credit: Leslie Yager

Left, Christopher Hughes, emcee of the Glenville September 11 event, with State Rep. Livvy Floren. Credit: Leslie Yager

Bea Crumbine, Barbara O’Neill and John Toner at the Glenville September 11 event. Credit: Leslie Yager

Boy Scouts at the Sept. 11, 2015 commemoration

A group of local Boy Scouts in Glenville for the commemoration of the 14th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Most of these boys were not yet born when the heinous attacks took place. Credit: Leslie Yager

Placing the wreath at the foot of the September 11 memorial at Glenville Fire station. The memorial is fashioned from a salvaged I-beam from the World Trade Center. Credit: Leslie Yager

In Glenville Boy Scouts gathered to watch the ceremony commemorating the 14th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the US in 2001. Credit: Leslie Yager