– Photos  and video by Harry Kane

On Sunday afternoon Somerville paused to grieve the victims of 9/11. The remembrance ceremony brought people of all races and creeds together to mourn those who lost their lives ten years ago. Police, firefighters, and residents made their way into Davis Square about ten minutes before the hour.  Those who had congregated around the circular memorial waited in anticipation of the Mayor’s speech. “At one o’clock exactly, around the country sirens and bells will chime, ring, and declare in memorializing those we’ve lost on that day,” stated Mayor Curtatone.

When the moment of silence ended several Somerville residents and city officials approached the podium and shared their own feelings for the tragic losses.

“To this day there is a decal on my window with a flag and below it, it says never forget, and I will never forget. I will always remember that day.”  –  Maryann Heuston, Ward Two Alderman.

“I was very proud to be from Somerville that day and I was proud to be an American that day, as I am today.  And, I just want to say, God Bless to all those that lost their lives, and God Bless their families.”  –  Bruce M. Desmond, Alderman At Large.

“We re-live it again and again. We will never forget those who gave their lives, but also never forget the bravery and the sacrifices of those that saved literally hundreds and thousands of people, taking them out of the towers, out of the streets, and taking them into the boats that pulled people off the island and into safety.”  – Jack Connolly, Alderman At Large.

“Today I’m gonna remember them, and I’m also gonna remember those people on that plane in Pennsylvania who fought. And the words they said, ‘Let’s Roll,’ so let’s keep rolling America.” – Bob Trane, Ward 7 Alderman.

“How will I explain this to my children? What will I say to my little children, my little one is so young. How can she understand? And, I described what had happened in general terms without too many of the horrifying details and I said, ‘there are people who do bad things in this world, but there are many more people who do good things and the important thing is that we should be those who always try to do good things’.”  – Denise Provost, State Representative.

Each person identified differently with 9/11, and as the ceremony drew to a close a sigh of relief permeated throughout the crowd. A giant weight had been lifted and the milestone ten-year anniversary was over.

– Harry Kane