The Boothbay Fire Department, in conjunction with Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency, will host a Sept. 11 memorial service to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The service will take place at the Boothbay Commons. Every Lincoln County fire, police, and EMS department is invited to participate.
The ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a parade march from the Boothbay Fire Station to the Commons. Opening remarks will be given by Boothbay Fire Chief Richard Spofford to be followed a speech from a local service member. Spofford will serve as the master of ceremonies.
In commemoration of the over 400 emergency workers killed while responding to the attacks, the Firefighter, EMS, and Law Enforcement prayers will be recited after the guest speech.
Lincoln County’s 9/11 Memorial Service is part of a National Moment of Remembrance resolution passed unanimously by the US Senate and adopted by the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Towns across the United States will be holding simultaneous memorial services.
Senate Resolution 237 calls for a nationwide moment of observance for one minute at 1 p.m. EDT with the sounding of sirens, horns, whistles, and church bells. All people are asked to cease work or any other activity for the moment of remembrance. The resolution will be read in its entirety during the memorial service in Boothbay.
A fire engine aerial display will precede the minute-long observance. Three aerial ladder trucks, one each from Wiscasset, Boothbay Harbor, and Damariscotta, will be lined up, two with their ladders raised. The two ladders will be steadily lowered, signifying the fall of the Twin Towers. After the two ladders are lowered, the third ladder will be raised, symbolizing the rebirth of the fallen buildings through the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site.
According to Emergency Management and 9-1-1 Communications Director Tim Pellerin, the goal of the ceremony is to remember all those who were affected by the attacks, whether it be the emergency services workers called to the Towers, members of the armed forces sent to fight overseas, or civilians.
“Everyone that day was affected…we want to pay tribute to everyone,” Pellerin said.
The ceremony will conclude shortly after 1 p.m. with a clergy invocation. The public is welcome to attend.
