Never Forget: Greenwich Marks 20th Anniversary Of 9/11

Greenwich CT

11 September, 2021

1:55 PM

Description

GREENWICH, CT — Under bright blue sky and late summer sunshine, the Greenwich community gathered in Cos Cob Park Saturday morning to mark the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. A crowd of over 150 people sat in the parking lot of the park near the 9/11 memorial, which sits on a bluff overlooking the Long Island Sound and displays 33 names of Greenwich residents who perished in the attacks. A bell was rung and a cannon was fired to observe the time when each plane struck the Twin Towers, when the Pentagon was hit, when the towers fell, and when Flight 93 went down in Shanksville, Pa. The names of those with Greenwich ties who died were read. A ceremony was also held on Friday outside of the Glenville Volunteer Fire Department. On Saturday, a prayer service memorial was held at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich. Stephanie Dunn Ashley, CEO of the American Red Cross Metro NY North Chapter and President of the Cos Cob Fire Patrol, introduced the keynote speakers for Saturday's Cos Cob ceremony: Pamela Farr and Russ Ogden. Farr was the Board Chair of what was then the Greenwich chapter of the American Red Cross on 9/11. Ogden has been a longtime Red Cross volunteer. "While 20 years have passed, as a nation, we will always remember that day — where we were, when we heard the news, and what we did in those hours and days afterwards," Dunn Ashley said. "Within minutes of Flight 11 crashing into the north tower of the World Trade Center, the Red Cross began mobilizing to provide immediate help, and our work continued in support of families of victims, survivors, first responders, and so many of our neighbors." Farr and Ogden reflected on that fateful day and the role the Red Cross played locally in town. On that morning, Farr got her youngest daughter ready for school, and began to prepare for what was a normal, busy day filled with meetings and errands. Her television was on in the background, and she eventually noticed the news that a plane had crashed into the north tower. After the second plane hit the south tower, Farr had a decision to make. Should she go to the Red Cross building on East Putnam Avenue, or pick up her daughter from Sacred Heart Greenwich? Having heard a rumor that one of the planes originated from Westchester County Airport, which is located near the school, she decided to get her daughter and then head to the Red Cross facility, where other staff members and volunteers had gathered looking to help. "That morning those of us at the Red Cross put our own concerns aside and focused on helping our community. Knowing the mission of the Red Cross is to prepare and respond to disasters, we all got to work preparing for what we knew would be a few weeks, if not months, of disaster response operations," Farr said. Pamela Farr speaking during Saturday's ceremony. (Richard Kaufman/Patch Staff) Having just left her daughter's school, Farr knew that children in schools across Greenwich were dealing with fear, and they wanted to be with their families. But New York City was sealed off, and communication via cell phone was almost impossible. "We knew there would be parents who might be unable to reach their children, reassure them and pick them up from school," Farr said. "Red Cross sheltering is unusual in Greenwich. Only the rare hurricane or nor'easter prompts the chapter to set up a shelter. But on 9/11 the Greenwich chapter staff and volunteers found a way to open a shelter for those children, so that the kids, unable to be picked up by a parent, family member or neighbor, had a safe place to go." To Farr's knowledge, a Red Cross shelter just for children was unprecedented, but it was needed on that day. The Red Cross facility eventually became a place where first responders who were helping out at ground zero could come to and decompress before heading home. Board members prepared meals for first responders and Red Cross volunteers who were working 24/7. "One ray of hope and goodness I saw during those challenging times was the outpouring of compassion, caring and empathy on the part of the Greenwich community. One example of that caring was the community's support for the Red Cross. During the 9/11 response the Greenwich chapter recognized the need to be prepared to serve beyond its borders," Farr said. The Red Cross Greenwich chapter eventually moved to a bigger building at 99 Indian Field Road. A garage was built in order to house emergency response vehicles, and with the close proximity to I-95, those vehicles can be deployed rapidly anywhere in the tri-state area when a disaster occurs. "Many spaces in that building were named in honor of our neighbors lost on 9/11. A tribute to those lost and a symbol of the compassion and generosity of our community," Farr added. Ogden recalled establishing a family reunification and support center at Chris Church on East Putnam Avenue. He was asked to establish a disaster welfare inquiry center — a database and support system to reunite Connecticut families separated by the events in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. "While working on the list of the missing, I found names of several Greenwich friends, and even noticed a name I recognized as the same as my cousin: Elizabeth Ann Farmer," Ogden said. "However, I thought that was a coincidence since she lived in New Orleans. A few days later, I learned that she had been in New York visiting friends before heading to Paris." In order to earn spending money for her trip, Farmer had taken a temporary job with a firm in the World Trade Center. She had died in the terror attacks. "We will not forget those who lost their life as the result of the attacks on 9/11, and we can best honor their memory by being vigilant and prepared for whatever the future may hold," Ogden said. Ogden outlined six steps people can take to be ready for a crisis of any size: Have a smoke detector and fire detectors installed in your homeTake a first aid courseLearn how officials will notify you of local emergenciesCreate a family emergency plan where every member knows waht to do if they get spearated and how they will stay informed; include yours pets in that plan.Build an emergency kit containing food, water, and other basic supplies to last at least three days, and include important documents.Give blood regularly if you're able, knowing that it must be ready in the hospital when it's needed. The Rev. Thomas Nins of First Baptist Church and the Greenwich Police Department gave brief remarks. "They attacked America because they hate Americans. Not black Americans or white Americans, not vaccinators or anti-vaxxers, not critical race theory, not democrat or republican," Nins said. "Through all of that hatred and in the midst of those attacks, we stood. We continue to stand because of this country. We continue to stand because we believe in something more powerful than hate." Following the remarks, attendees walked up to the bluff and placed roses at the base of the memorial. First Selectman Fred Camillo said after the ceremony that there was a feeling of shock and then a resolve across the country following the attacks. "There was a resolve born on Sept. 11, 2001 to never forget, to send a notice that America will always fight to protect its freedoms," Camillo said. "Each time we gather at venues like this to remember, that will ensure that that resolve stays as strong today as it did before." Greenwich resident Wells Noonan lost her brother, Robert, on 9/11. Robert was a broker at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 105th floor of One World Trade Center. For Noonan, seeing so many people come out to honor those who were lost 20 years ago gives her a great sense of pride. "I love to see the community come together and people supporting one another, holding each other up, and acknowledging what a horrific day we all had," Noonan said. "People that didn't know each other were holding hands and putting their arms around each other [during the ceremony.] To me, I feel like that's God's grace. I'm always looking for those moments, because I feel like my brother is in those moments." Noonan said she can believe it's been two decades since she lost her brother, but it's hard to accept. "I think we all together, in my family at least, really have thought about where we would be if this didn't happen 20 years ago, and how our lives would be different. It hurts," she said. The 9/11 memorial in Cos Cob Park is a special place for Noonan, who visits at least once or twice per week. "I walk the park, and I always go up there and touch his name and sit up there," she said. Noonan said she wants more answers about what happened leading up to and on 9/11. Last week, President Joe Biden signed an executive order which calls for a declassification review of documents related to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Sept. 11 investigations. The executive order requires the Attorney General to release the declassified documents publicly over the next six months. Families who lost loved ones believe the documents will reveal more answers about the attacks and the potential role the Saudi Arabian government played. "I do feel that we need justice," Noonan added. "Nobody's been held accountable. We need more answers."