Town of Acton Invites Community to Ceremony Marking 20th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks 

ACTON – The Town of Acton, Acton Fire Department and Acton Police Department invite community members to a 9/11 Memorial Service in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

WHEN:

Saturday, Sept. 11, beginning at 10 a.m.

WHERE:

Public Safety Building, 371 Main St., Acton

WHO:

• Tom Matthews, Firefighter/EMT, Acton Fire Department
• Jon Stackhouse, Detective, Acton Police Department
• State Sen. Jamie Eldridge
• State Rep. Tami Gouveia
• State Rep. Danillo Sena
• David Martin, Select Board Chair
• The Rev. Leah Grace Goodwin, Pastor, West Acton Baptist Church
• Lauren Morton, resident, former Select Board Chair, whose husband Phillip Rosenzweig died on Flight 11.

WHAT:

In observance of the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and in remembrance of those who lost their lives, the Town of Acton invites community members to attend its 9/11 Memorial Service.

As is the tradition of the New York City Fire Department, Acton firefighters will symbolically strike a “5-5-5-5” alarm on a ceremonial bell to remember the first responders who died in the line of duty on Sept. 11, 2001.

A moment of silence will be observed to commemorate the time of the collapse of the World Trade Center’s South Tower and in tribute to all civilians, airline pilots and attendants, EMS, police and fire personnel, Port Authority workers, military, and civilian workers at the Pentagon and all the families who lost loved ones in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001.

Public safety representatives, state and local officials, and community members will offer brief remarks.

The event also will remember two Acton residents who died in the attacks: Philip Rosenzweig, who was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, and Madeline “Amy” Sweeney, who was an attendant on that flight and is credited with reporting the hijacking to authorities.

Each year the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security presents the Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery in her memory. Awardees are recognized for demonstrating exceptional bravery, without regard for personal safety, to save the lives of others.