Never Forget: Remembering Southern New England's 9/11 Victims

A Day of Remembrance

On September 11th, 2001, America witnessed a horrific tragedy that forever changed our nation. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost, including many from our own Southern New England community. On this day of remembrance, we pay tribute to their lives and the impact they had on our region.

Connecticut's Lost

Connecticut lost 69 residents in the 9/11 attacks, many of whom were members of the New York Fire Department or the Port Authority Police Department. Among the fallen were Firefighter William Feehan, a 15-year veteran of the New Haven Fire Department, and Firefighter John Cullen, a 20-year veteran of the Bridgeport Fire Department.

Rhode Island's Heroes

Rhode Island's 9/11 victims included three firefighters and a police officer. Firefighter Paul Hurley of the Warwick Fire Department was in the second tower of the World Trade Center when it collapsed. Firefighter Robert Higgins and Lieutenant James McNulty of the Providence Fire Department were also killed in the attacks. Police Officer Ronald H. Tavares of the Bristol Police Department was among the first responders to the Pentagon.

Massachusetts' Remembrance

Massachusetts lost the most residents of any New England state, with 169 victims. Many of these victims were employees of financial firms located in the World Trade Center. Among the fallen were John M. Cahill Jr., managing director of Sandler O'Neill & Partners, and Christopher Mello, a 24-year-old analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald.

Preserving Their Memory

Throughout Southern New England, there are many memorials and tributes to the victims of 9/11. In Connecticut, the 9/11 Living Memorial in Bridgeport honors the state's fallen heroes. Rhode Island has the 9/11 Memorial Park in West Warwick, which features a steel beam from the World Trade Center. Massachusetts has the Freedom Trail, which includes a memorial to the victims of 9/11 at the Boston Public Library. These memorials serve as a reminder of the tremendous loss that our region experienced on 9/11. They also stand as a testament to the courage and sacrifice of the victims and their families. As we approach the 21st anniversary of the attacks, let us never forget the lives that were lost and the enduring impact they had on our communities.