Bravery, Courage and Sacrifice: Branford Remembers 9/11, 20 Years Later - Zip06.com

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By Pam Johnson/Zip06.com • 09/15/2021 07:00 a.m. EST

On a peaceful day under blue skies strikingly similar to those of 20 years ago, Branford gathered on the Town Green to commemorate the bravery, courage, and sacrifices made following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Hundreds attended the outdoor event at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 11, during which the crowd fell silent at exactly 8:46 a.m. to mark the moment when terrorists of hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center (WTC) North Tower in New York City. That attack was shortly followed by terrorists crashing United Airlines Flight 175 into the WTC South Tower. A total of 2,753 people killed in New York that day.

Still more died in a field outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 overtook the plane from the terrorists who had taken control, and more died at the crash of terrorist-hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. In all, 2,977 lives were lost due on Sept. 11, 2001 due to the series of attacks.

Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney recounted the response of thousands who went into action that day to save lives, with 412 first responders losing their own lives in the process. Of those who rushed in to assist at the WTC site, Mahoney also noted that, since 2001, more than 2,000 more have died due to 9/11-related illnesses.

On that day, and for weeks and months after, Branford focused on delivering its assistance to the WTC site, where many Connecticut residents, including those with ties to Branford, had been killed.

Branford’s state delegation of elected officials, local elected officials, and community leaders and leaders of the town’s first responders, including Branford Police Chief Jon Mulhern, shared in recollections and remembrances of the events which changed the country on that day.

In his comments, First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove noted the 9/11 terrorists attacks took place “with the intent to take human life, create chaos and division, and place fear in the hearts and minds of all Americans. However, the courage of the first responders who rushed to rescue lives, the valiant effort by the passengers of Flight 93 to take back the plane, and stories of strangers and coworkers comforting each other in a dire time, inspired our nation to remain resolute and to pledge that we would never forget.”

Cosgrove also noted that, every year for the past 19 years, Branford has reaffirmed the promise to never forget, coming together to reflect on the events of 9/11 as well as to honor those who lost their lives, keep in thoughts and prayers the families forever impacted and those with health affected by the dust and debris of the fallen towers.

“As we step off this green and carry on with our day, let us to continue to honor the firefighters, the policemen, the EMS personnel, by offering continued respect towards their profession,” said Cosgrove. “And let us remember those who are serving abroad from this country to defend our freedoms. And let us, as a community, and as a nation, be united in preserving our liberties that we enjoy in this great country.”

Those assembled also heard powerful comments from William Hackett, retired director of the Connecticut Department of Homeland Security and Branford deputy fire chief; and Branford High School (BHS) history teacher and U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant Dave Gruendel. Gruendel was with students when the towers fell, then called to duty in the days that followed.

“I remember my cell phone ringing and the moment I stopped being ‘Mr. G.’ and I became Sergeant Gruendel,” said Gruendel, who spoke of the challenge of leaving his family the next morning “with sincere uncertainty of what would happen next.”

He recalled driving to his base at under skies where commercial planes no longer flew and on highways empty of traffic. Gruendel turned off the radio after hearing news that only shared growing numbers and names of the dead and estimated losses to come.

“Those numbers and those names haunt me. I am certain those of us old enough to know all feel similarly,” said Gruendel. “We need to remember those numbers and those names, and we need to know each one represents a specific story that is hard to hear. But those are the stories that need to be heard to understand that day.”

At the Branford ceremony, the names 161 victims of 9/11 from Connecticut were read aloud by BHS students Alan Khoultchaev and Jessica Yanez Bermeo. Branford Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Judd explained the significance of the tradition of “Striking Four Fives” as bell tones to local fire box communication points, to signify when firefighters die in the line of duty. He then called all companies to attention and directed Branford Fire Marshal Amanda Clark to strike the tones for WTC fire box 8084.

Branford Police Department officers provided a rifle salute during the ceremony. The presentation of colors that opened and closed the ceremony was made by Marine Cadets of America with Branford Police and Fire departments, escorted with music by the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps. Other musical selections were provided by BHS Music Makers, directed by Michael Martone. Prayers were given by Branford Police Chaplain Rev. Bill Keane and Branford Fire Department Chaplain Rev. Sharon Gracen.

A poignant moment during the ceremony was a special remembrance of Fire Department of New York (FDNY) veteran and Branford second selectman Joe Higgins, who passed away June 5, 2020. A Bronx, New York native, Higgins and his wife, Angela, moved to Branford in 2006 following his retirement from FDNY as deputy director of Dispatch Operations. Higgins led FDNY dispatch operations on Sept. 11, 2001 in Manhattan during the attack and collapse of the WTC towers and was also on site that day. Among 343 NYFD first responders who died that day, Higgins lost 79 of his personal friends. In Connecticut, Higgins became well-known among local fire department communities and sought as a speaker for 9/11 events. Since 2006, Higgins and his wife had been instrumental in helping to bring Branford together each year to remember 9/11.

In his honor at this year’s event, Angela Higgins and the extended Higgins family, together with the Branford Community Foundation, presented the first Joseph E. Higgins Jr. Scholarship Fund award to Jack McCarthy of Branford, a sophomore in the Homeland Security program at University of New Haven.

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Bravery, Courage and Sacrifice: Branford Remembers 9/11, 20 Years Later - Zip06.com
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