Michelle L. Cook

This Saturday marks 20 years since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 innocent people lost their lives on the morning of September 11, 2001 and many more, including first responders, have died from health complications in the years following the attacks. September 11th remains one of the darkest and deadliest days in U.S. history.

In the hours and days following the attacks, Sherwood Island State Park in Westport became a staging area for emergency workers responding to the attacks. The park is now home to a memorial for the 161 victims of the 9/11 attacks who lived in or had ties to Connecticut.
 
Every year on the Thursday before September 11^th, Connecticut holds a 9/11 memorial ceremony at Sherwood Island State Park to honor those whose lives were lost. You can watch a recording of the ceremony on CT-N.
 
I hope you have an opportunity to pause and reflect on this tragic event. Please remember the victims and the many first responders who bravely set aside their personal safety to save lives on that horrible day 20 years ago.

We will never forget.