A Place to Remember and Give Thanks

 

 

A decade has passed and thanks to three dedicated Ridgefielders, our town now has a beautiful monument created out of a steel beam from The World Trade to memorialize the lives lost on 9/11. Thank you to Allison Greeley, a 9/11 survivor, Steve Zemo, and monument creator, Chris Curnan for all that you did to make this memorial possible.

Hundreds of people, young and old, joined together on the lawn in front of Ridgefield Rec Center for last night's 9/11 Memorial Ceremony and Monument Unveiling. It began with Molly Weeks on alto saxophone playing "God Bless the USA" and the "Battle Hymn of the Republic".

We watched as The Ridgefield Police Department Honor Guard and the Ridgefield Fire Department Color Guard reverently proceeded to the monument site. It is there that three benches sit, representing Ridgefield residents who lost their lives on September 11, 2001: Tyler Ugolyn, Joe Heller and husband & wife, Wilson “Bud” and Darlene “Dee” Flagg.

Dr.Fred H. Turpin, President of Ridgefield Clergy Association spoke of forgiveness in the aftermath of tragedy and pain and shared a passage from Matthew 5:44; one that is perhaps the biggest challenge for Americans in the wake of 9/11: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you".

"This steel beam from The World Trade Center was brought here by the people of Ridgefield and stands to honor the memory of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on The United States. It is dedicated to those who fell and those who carry on. May we never forget".

Thank you to Jennie Carr for taking some amazing photos and sharing them with us.