Sandy Hook Fire Co. Holds Sept. 11 Service

It was a beautiful Sunday morning as Sandy Hook Fire and Rescue hosted a memorial ceremony for the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy. A huge American flag, held up high by two fire ladder trucks, flew magnificently over Riverside Road in the background.

Everyone had their own personal reason for attending the ceremony.

“I don’t think there is a better way to honor those that gave their life and those that worked so diligently to rescue others than by spending it with our first responders who are our heroes,”  Sarah Hemmingway, of Newtown, said.

The ceremony began with a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace sung by Kaitlyn Bogue, a Western Connecticut University student. 

Kevin Craggin, chairman of the Newtown Board of Fire Commissioners served as the master of ceremony. 

An emergency responder from each of our local units represented their company at the Podium: Sandy Hook Fire and Rescue Co., Newtown Hook and Lader Co. No. 1, Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Co., Hawleyville Fire and Rescue Co., Botsford Fire and Rescue Co., Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue, Southbury Volunteer Fireman’s Association and the Emergency Communications Center 

Bill Halstead, chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Co. took the podium and called in the color guards of Sandy Hook and Botsford fire companies.

“To the many who rose in service in response to the attack, these  individuals include first responders, volunteers, rescue and recovery workers, uniformed safety personnel and hundred of thousands of others who have served in our armed forces both at home and overseas – today we are dedicating our service to all those important individuals," Halstead said. "Regardless of whatever differences we have as people we our unified today by our human decency and our universal compassion to the well-being of others.”

Other speakers included Monsignor Robert Weiss, pastor of St Rose of Lima Church, Newtown Selectman Will Rodgers, who also is a retired colonel in the Marine Corp, state Rep. Chris Lyddy (D-106) and Newtown police Capt. Joe Rios.

They all emphasized the importance of our local responders to the community. Gratitude was specifically expressed for their efforts during Tropical Storm Irene. 

Especially touching moments during the ceremony were when the moments of silence were followed by a ringing of the bell. 

9:03 a.m.: United Airlines Flight 175 Hits the World Trade Center South Tower

9:37 a.m.: American Airlines Flight 77 Hits the Pentagon

10:03 a.m.: United Flight 93 Crashes in Shanksville, PA

You could see family members hugging each other or a tear being wiped from an eye.  

The ceremony concluded with Kaitlyn Bogue singing the National Anthem. 

Credit for much of the effort behind the memorial service goes to Karin Halstead, a member of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Co. and Bill Halstead's daughter, who said, “It was my dad’s idea. We had a memorial service on the first anniversary of 9/11. And he thought we should hold one again so I just took his idea and ran with it.”

Correction: The United Airlines Flight 175 struck the World Trade Center South Tower at 9:03 a.m. An earlier version of this article identified the wrong airliner and tower.

Editor's note: For more on the other Sept. 11 ceremony held in town, see