Event to be Featured on Easton Fire Department Facebook Page at 9:45 a.m., Friday (Sept. 11)
EASTON — Police Chief Gary Sullivan and Fire Chief Kevin Partridge will be hosting a live-streamed remembrance ceremony this week to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, while also adhering to social distancing guidelines.
The ceremony will take place at the Easton Public Safety Building, located at 48 Lothrop St., North Easton. The event will include the lowering of the American flag to half-mast, a moment of silence, a bell ringing and a reading of the Firefighter’s Prayer.
To watch the ceremony on Facebook Live, follow this link beginning at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11: tinyurl.com/y2dacjny
“I feel that it is very important to hold this ceremony every year on 9/11 to remember all the lives lost, and thank all the firefighters, police officers, construction workers, and civilians who worked days on the ‘pile’ to find anyone who was alive, and to bring closure for the families of those who did not survive,” Chief Partridge said. “It is also important to keep doing this so our fire and police personnel don’t forget what happen to many of our colleagues.”
Chief Partridge has been taking part in the 9/11 ceremony since he came to the Easton Fire Department in 2012, and this will be his last before his upcoming retirement.
“A total of 25 current members of the Easton Fire Department were not firefighters when 9/11 occurred,” Partridge said. “Very soon, the generation that were firefighters and police officers when this happened will be retired, and I hope the members keep this honor for 9/11 going.”
Typically, the department hosts public safety and Town officials, state representatives and members of the community for a ceremony to honor those who lost their lives during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the department will still host the ceremony with a smaller group present, and will not be inviting members of the public to attend in person.
Instead, all are welcome to view the live-streamed ceremony.
“Sept. 11 was nearly 20 years ago, and it is important to remember the lives lost that day, including both innocent civilians and the brave police officers, firefighters and other first responders,” Chief Sullivan said. “We hold this ceremony in Easton each and every year, and while it is unfortunate we cannot hold a larger in-person gathering this year we encourage all residents to view the livestream.”
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