Somber Ceremony For Tunnel To Towers 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit’s Return To CT
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
A last minute cancellation in Missouri and a chance encounter made it possible for this outstanding tribute to the fallen who lost their lives on the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York's World Trade Center. The exhibit is located at 136 Westport Rd. Easton, only 15 minutes and less than 9 miles from downtown Westport. The exhibit was last in CT eight years ago.
This is a significant presentation which is a somber and moving event, between the items in the exhibit and the information provided by members of the Fire Department Of The City Of New York (FDNY) who knew many of the first responders who tragically lost their lives that horrific day.
Members of the Fire Department Of The City Of New York, the heroic FDNY were joined by local first responders from Fairfield County including local EMS, Firefighters and Police officers to commemorate the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks at the Tunnel to Towers Mobile Exhibit in Easton on Friday, August 8th.
A last-minute cancellation in Missouri unexpectedly paved the way for an extraordinary tribute to honor the fallen heroes of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York's World Trade Center. This significant presentation, held in at the Congregational Church of Easton, was a somber and moving event, featuring an exhibit filled with personal items recovered from the site and powerful stories by those who were there. Attendees were deeply affected by firsthand accounts from members of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), many of whom personally knew the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice that day. The combination of the tangible artifacts and heartfelt remembrances provided a profound reflection on the bravery and loss experienced during that tragic moment in history.
Above left, newly appointed Easton Police Chief Foti Koskinas (yes, THAT Foti Koskinas, former Westport PD chief) shares a moment before the ceremony with one of the volunteers. FDNY firfighters await the start of the ceremony. Opening remarks wer given by a number of speakers including FDNY members who were on scene in September 2001. At right, Chief Koskinas joins first responders during the singing of the National Anthem.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
An NYPD firefighter leads the group of first responders and the American flag into the Congregational Church. Scouts lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the singing of the National Anthem, then remarks by Pastor Emeritus George Coca St. Demetrius Church in Easton offering remarks.
Fairfield and Easton firefighters join an NYPD firefighter to listen to the presentation by speakers during the very somber remarks which recall and speak about the efforts of all first responders and volunteers as the describe the horror of the attack nearly a quarter of a century earlier. One of the FDNY firefighters attending was Lt. David Russell, a nearly 30 year veteran who joined the FDNY in 1985 after retiring from military service. He was working on his house when his wife called with the first report that a small plane had crashed into the WTC Tower. After seeing what had actually happened he know it was not a small plane. He and another FDNY Lt. commandeered a bus in the Bronx and drove downtown to assist in the rescue operation. They arrived just after the second tower fell. Lt. Russell told WestportLocalPress that he personally knew 105 members of the FDNY who were lost that day and the impact of that loss and that day was clear in our conversation.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Above left, Redding Police Officer Vadas was in attendance. He lost a brother who was working in one of the towers on the day of the attack.
At left, a bagpiper from the NY Dept. of Sanitation played as the flag was brought into the ceremony and as the audience left the church. Next, father Coca stands with U.S. Army Aviator Ed Soderberg who rose rapidly in the ranks to become Captain in six years. Soderbergh received multiple decorations, flying both rotary and fixed wing aircraft for the Army. Multiple sponsors made the event possible by covering costs. At right, a photo provided by Chief Koskinas from 2001 shows Westport PD Officer Richard Failla (left), Officer Phil Restieri (center) and Officer Manny Sylvia (right) who went to the site to assist in recovery efforts.
