Foxboro Jaycees 9/11 Five Year Memorial

(Photos by Robert Gillis)

About 100 people gathered on Foxboro Common Monday for a solemn observation of the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in an hour long observance organized by Foxboro Jaycees.

Adults held lighted candles and children held pinwheels during the ceremony. The names of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks were slowly scrolled on the screen.

"Please take a moment to look at that list and remember that every name represents a living, breathing human being with hopes and concerns, dreams, family, friends -- killed in an act of barbaric terrorism five years ago today" said Jaycee Bob Gillis in his opening message. "Remember them, the 10,000 children orphaned. No name must be forgotten."

A moment of silence and the national anthem followed his comments.

"Stay the entire hour, or only a few minutes" he said. "Whatever brings you comfort."

Many attendees carried American flags or wore flags on their garments. Dexter Young, 34, of Howard Avenue cupped his hand around the flame in his candle.

"I wanted to give condolences to the ones that lost their loved ones, even though I don’t know them" he said when asked why he came. "I want to support them for their loss."

The event was organized by Gillis and fellow Jaycees Lynda Walsh and Lauren Bitar, with help from Mike Webber of Foxboro Cable Access and cable volunteers.

David Friedl of North Street, an Army veteran wearing a shirt with an eagle emblem, stood apart on the Common, still holding his lit candle a half hour after the event officially ended. Having arrived late, he stood while the scroll of the 9/11 dead repeated on the big screen as technicians were beginning to put away their equipment.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. The Foxboro Jaycees are very grateful to have you here as we commemorate the 5th anniversary of the attacks on America.

As with the memorial we held on the first anniversary of 9/11, there is no official program or schedule tonight. We will have a moment of silence and then play the national anthem, and then we leave it to you to choose how to spend this time. Stay the entire hour, or only a few minutes. Whatever brings you comfort.

We’ll play appropriate music, and are giving out free candles and pinwheels for the children.

We would like to thank our friends at Foxboro Cable Access who are cable-casting this event live for everyone who couldn’t make it here this evening.

On the bandstand screen, and on your TVs at home, you will see the long list of names scrolling by. Please take a moment to look at that list and remember that every name represents a living, breathing human being with hopes and concerns, dreams, family, friends… killed in an act of barbaric terrorism five years ago today. Remember them, remember the 10,000 children orphaned. No name must be forgotten.

This morning, New York Governor Pataki said, in part, "The date, September 11, will forever evoke recollections of unimaginable tragedy, of lives callously lost and brutally cut short and of unspeakable horror and sorrow in the hearts and minds of all of us. … That is why each and every September 11, we as Americans pay tribute to those who lost their lives that fateful day. We gather in unity and dignity to honor the freedoms that we have fought for in the past, the freedoms our loved ones have died for, and those freedoms that we continue to fight for today.

Remembering that day is not a choice but our solemn obligation.

As you recall September 11, always remember that we were attacked not for what we do wrong but for what we do right. Remember the spirit of that day -- the day America showed what makes us a great people and a great nation; the day the true character of our nation triumphed over unspeakable evil; the day that freedom and democracy prevailed yet again over oppression and tyranny.”

Friends, this evening we once again take comfort in being together, to find strength in numbers, and take a few moments to remember the 3000 innocent souls who were murdered five years ago today, and the terrible aftermath of September 11, 2001. We sincerely thank you for joining us.

And now, a moment of silence, followed by our national anthem.

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