On Tuesday morning, Sept. 11, the Town of Branford held a ceremony recognizing the loss of 2,996 lives and marking the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on this country. On that day in 2001, hundreds of those killed were first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The ceremony also provided an opportunity for a grateful community to thank its firefighters, police and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). Uniformed members of Branford Fire Department (BFD) and Branford Police Department (BPD) participated in the morning ceremony in the vehicle bays at Branford Fire Headquarters, where a huge American flag was unfurled and hung on the side of a ladder engine. An audience of community supporters was seated in a central bay. Behind the podium, leaders of BFD, including Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney; and BPD, including Police Chief Kevin Halloran; gathered with community leaders including First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and Branford State Representatives Lonnie Reed (District 102) and Sean Scanlon (District 98), Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez, and other guests and speakers.

The morning's speakers included a moving remembrance given by Branford Selectman Joseph Higgins. A retired veteran of the New York Fire Department (NYFD), Higgins was deputy director of dispatch operations in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001. He was manning NYFD's main communications dispatch center during the attack and collapse of the World Trade Center towers. Among 343 NYFD first responders who died that day, Higgins lost 79 of his personal friends.

"That terrible day is in Branford with me now. I'll never forget that terrible day," said Higgins, who relocated to Branford with his wife, Angela, in 2006.

Higgins, who has been instrumental in bringing the town together each year to remember 9/11, also thanked Branford's first responders for all they do.

"Thank you for protecting this great town," he told them. "And for us regular folks that are not uniform people, when you're in the street, and you see a fire truck and you see the police officers, it's not going to hurt to go over and [greet them]. It's a power-booster. They need that."

During  her speech, Angela Higgins recounted the losses of nearly 3,000 lives in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. on Sept. 11, 2001. She also said many who died have yet to have their remains identified, but the work continues.

"Just two months ago, a 27-year-old young man was identified. His name was Scott Johnson. He had just reported for his first day of work in Tower One," said Higgins, adding his parents had shared how excited they were for their only son on the first day of his "dream job."

"There are so many sad stories that have come out of the events of 9/11, but one constant remains," Higgins continued. "Our firefighters, police and EMTs answered that call that day, and every day since. Their courage humbles me. Their actions evoke pride to be called American."

She also noted that,  "...under the ever present protection of our firefighters, police men and women and EMTs, we live our lives in freedom. There truly are no words adequate enough to convey our gratitude to all our first responders. The freedoms we enjoy rest on the shoulders of these honorable, dedicated men and women. I encourage you all [to] thank all our first responders, not just today, but everyday."

Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney shared the story behind the day's ceremonial ringing of the bells. Years ago, when fire departments used telegraph systems and cities had pull-box alarms on street corners, operators would tap out a corresponding number in response to receiving an alarm call.

"The series of numbers that would tap out would indicate the location of that call. Over the years, if a firefighter lost his life, the signal 5-5-5 would be tapped out on the telegraph system, indicating the loss," said Mahoney. "Five taps, followed by five, followed by five, would indicate that we lost a member. That signal, 5-5-5, is now used in ceremonies to represent those that have been lost in the fire service; by the ringing of the bell."

Mahoney then asked the attending companies to stand at attention; and the audience and those behind the podium also rose, as Branford Fire Deputy Chief Tim Judd tapped out 15 distinctive tolls on a ceremonial silver bell.

Branford High School (BHS) Music Makers followed the bells with a poignant rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Together with Music Makers, members of Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps also provided musical interludes and patriotic music for the ceremony.

In closing, Mahoney also thanked BFD chaplain, Reverend Sharon Gracen, and BPD chaplain, Reverend Bill Keane, for their support of the town's first responders.

"Our chaplains are two individuals who give us such great support, and usually not always in the best of situations," said Mahoney. "They are always here for us, and I want to let you know that we are eternally grateful for all you do for us."

In his closing prayer, Keane noted that "restoration and renewal" has taken place in the past 17 years, but communities still gather on the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 to speak, sing and pray because, "...our spirits of recollection and reference remain undimmed and undaunted."