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A Call for Unity Today as Branford Remembers Sept. 11, 2001

The Town of Branford’s annual September 11 Remembrance Ceremony was threaded with a call for unity in the country today, during an event which honored the bravery, courage, and sacrifices of those who lost their lives and those who continue to suffer the impacts of the terrorist attacks on America 23 years ago on September 11, 2001.

In welcoming local leaders and members of the public to the 8:30 a.m. ceremony, Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney also emphasized the important work of first responders, noting that Branford firefighter/paramedics had responded to five incidents since 7:30 a.m. that morning.

In his opening remarks, Mahoney said the thousands of emergency responders who rushed to the scene of the World Trade Center Twin Tower attacks in New York City in 2001 “...never hesitated in their duty.”

“We gather today to fulfill our promise to never forget,” said Mahoney. “On that September morning 23 years ago, America was attacked by radicalized individuals. Those actions resulted in the deaths of 2,977 innocent people as they went about their day.”

Among them, 412 first responders lost their lives while saving others. Since 2001, over 2,000 more have died from 9/11-related illnesses, Mahoney noted. Additionally, thousands of young military were killed in answering the country’s call to service in the war against terror, while many more will suffer from the physical and mental wounds of war and memories of Sept. 11, 2001, said Mahoney.

“These acts of heroism by our fellow Americans showed the true character of our nation. Wounded but resilient, we rose up to meet that challenge. I truly believe that is our continuing challenge today -- to rise up and remember the feeling that we had that day to come together as a nation,” said Mahoney. “We are all in this together, one big American family.”

The ceremony was guided with opening prayer, remarks, and closing prayer by Branford Police Chaplain Rev. Bill Keane. Keane led a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., marking the time when the South Tower was struck on September 11, 2001 by one of the four commercial flights hijacked by terrorists on that day.

Keane noted 99% of the people below the floors struck by the planes which smashed into the south and north towers of the World Trade Center got out alive.

“This because of the firefighters and the police and the courageous citizens who put their own lives at risk so that others might survive,” said Keane. “We stand mindful of the fact that the path toward a more peaceful planet cannot be based in a naive wishful sentiment but must be founded in a realistic world view were we need not hate our enemies, nor should we, but we are required to recognize them before they victimize more innocent and defenseless people. That’s why we’re so thankful that just days ago the FBI thwarted another terrorist plot expressly intended to be a new 9/11, this time inflicted directly on the Jewish community in local New York.”

A recent FBI press release reported a Pakistani citizen residing in Canada was arrested on Sept. 4, 2024 for his alleged plan to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish Center in New York City around Oct. 7 of this year “...with the stated goal of slaughtering, in the name of ISIS, as many Jewish people as possible,” according to the release.

Keane also referred to recent acts of “open antisemitism” expressed at some universities in the nation.

“We know that casual indifference to such monstrous sentiment is a direct aid to those that would seek to destroy our beautiful way of life,” Keane said. “We assemble here this morning not only to remember, but to rekindle our awareness and reactivate our determination to keep our country free, lest the liberties we enjoy are lost, and future generations can only mourn the passing of what used to be.”

Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove thanked those who gathered with the event’s local leaders and Branford Fire and Police personnel to attend the remembrance ceremony.

“We gather to honor those we lost and the lives that have been forever changed, and to continue to fulfill our promise to never forget. For many of us, 9/11 remains the most significant historical event in our lifetime,” said Cosgrove. “Twenty-three years ago, most Americans turned to television for our news sources. The tragic events at the World Trade Center, The Pentagon, and Flight 93 [in Shanksville, Pennsylvania] played out in near real time before our eyes.”

Cosgrove said the “evil, cowardly, and senseless” terror attacks, representing the “worst of humankind,” were quickly countered by the “best of humankind” who exhibited “courage, selflessness, and empathy.”

“We witnessed firefighters, police, and emergency personnel bravely respond to a fateful situation to save lives. We learned of people, often strangers to one another, helping each other in a dire situation. We felt the heartbreak for the nearly 3,000 that died on that day,” said Cosgrove.

The collective sorrow, and the love of devotion Americans felt for their country, brought about a great sense of unity, Cosgrove noted.

“Through unity comes strength. The strength needed to be resilient to the forces that wish to divide and destroy. A country united became resolute in appreciating and defending the ideals of which this great nation was built upon. So let us reaffirm a promise to never forget, and honor those that lost their lives on September 11, 2001 by once again being a united country,” Cosgrove said.

The ceremony’s keynote speaker was Nicholas Schettino, a grandson of the late Joseph Higgins, a former Branford selectman. Higgins led FDNY dispatch operations on Sept. 11, 2001 in Manhattan during the attack and collapse of the Twin Towers and was also on-site that day. Among 343 NYFD first responders who died that day, Higgins lost 79 of his personal friends.

After retiring and moving to Branford, Higgins became well-known among local fire department communities and sought as a speaker for 9/11 events. Since 2006, Higgins and his wife, current Branford selectwomen Angela Higgins, were instrumental in helping to bring Branford together each year for an annual September 11 Remembrance Ceremony.

“If you had asked my grandfather what the importance of this ceremony is, he would have told you it is to express not just our mourning, but our appreciation for our first responders,” Schettino said. “From the moment Joe moved here in 2006, after years of service to the FDNY, he made it his mission to ensure that the memory of 9/11 was never forgotten. Joe feared the next generation would only know of this great tragedy through their history books. He believed events and memorials such as this ceremony were the best way to avoid this.”

When Higgins passed away in 2020, his family created a fund with the Branford Community Foundation establishing the Joseph E. Higgins Jr. 9/11 Memorial Scholarship Award, given to those seeking or involved in furthering their career as a first responder. The 2024 scholarships were presented to recipients to Kourtney Barnes and Eric Auscavitch, who are both firefighter/paramedics with Branford Fire Department.

A moving moment during the ceremony was provided by firefighter/paramedics Kevin O’Donnell and Paulina Smaga. They performed the Tolling of the Bell, representing the history of “Striking Four Fives” as bell tones to local fire box communication points to signify when firefighters have died in the line of duty. On Sept. 11, 2001, the tones were struck for WTC fire box 8084.

Branford Police and Fire Department members performed the ceremony’s presentation of the Colors. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Police Chief John Mulhern. Auscavitch recited The Firefighters Prayer. Branford police officer John Campanelli, a retired NYPD officer, gave the The Police Officers Prayer. Musical performances were given by Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps and Branford High School Music Makers. The ceremony’s rifle salute was made by Branford Police Officers.