'We Remember': Farmington Scouts Unite First Responders and Residents for Heartfelt 9/11 Memorial

FARMINGTON, CT — Under the twilight canopy of Alice Clover Pinney Memorial Park, generations of Farmington neighbors recently stood shoulder-to-shoulder to mark a solemn, quarter-century milestone: 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Hosted and organized by local youth from Scouts BSA Troop 170 alongside Cub Scout Packs 170 and 68 and area Girl Scouts, the memorial brought our community together to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day. More than just a backward glance, the evening transformed into a profound testament to courage, quiet service, and a living bridge between generations.

Local heroes were front and center as honored guests, including the Farmington Police Department, all three Town of Farmington Fire Departments (East Farms, Farmington, and Tunxis Hose), the UConn Fire Department, and members of CERT. Honored veterans from the VFW and American Legion stood in unity alongside members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, local civil servants, and State Representative Mike Demicco, who joined community leaders on stage in shared respect.

Rev. George Roberts of St. James Church, who also serves as Chaplain for Emergency Services, opened the ceremony with a poignant benediction that set an atmosphere of quiet reverence across the gazebo grounds.

Town Council Chair Brian F.X. Connolly stepped forward to introduce keynote speaker Conor Hogan, an officer with the Bristol Police Department. Connolly highlighted a deeply personal and generational tie to that tragic day: Hogan’s father was one of nine Farmington firefighters who answered the call and responded directly to Ground Zero in 2001.

Seeing his father serve in that defining moment helped inspire Hogan’s own life in public safety, first as a firefighter and now as a police officer. Connolly reminded the crowd that young people are always watching the adults around them, and the examples set today inevitably shape the choices our youth make tomorrow.

As the formal remembrance concluded, the mournful notes of "Taps," performed by David Tabol, drifted over School Street, holding the entire park in absolute silence.

The evening then transitioned into a sacred and visually stirring Flag Retirement ceremony led by the Scouts. If you were standing among the crowd, you witnessed an inspiring display of young people handling worn American banners with practiced dignity and care.

In the ceremony’s most emotional moment, the Master of Ceremonies invited attendees to step forward if they wished to retire a flag in memory of someone lost on or as a result of the 9/11 attacks. With gentle guidance and steady hands, local Scouts stood beside neighbors, helping each person honor their loved ones with personal grace.

For Troop 170 Scoutmaster Vallario, the discipline and respect on display spoke volumes about the character of the youth involved.

"I have great pride in our Scouts," Vallario shared. "Both the ones that organized and presented the ceremonies and the ones that watched in reverence."

What made the evening so remarkable is a simple truth: not a single Scout leading the ceremony was even alive when September 11 occurred.

Yet every single year—regardless of milestone anniversaries, weather, or crowd size—Farmington’s Scouts plan and carry out this observance. Whether an event draws a packed lawn or quiet drive-by acknowledgments, they show up because they understand that remembering is a responsibility that cannot be set aside.

For Troop 170 Committee Chair Matt Olshefski, who coordinated the guest speakers and emergency services, watching from the audience gave him a powerful, bird's-eye perspective on that commitment.

“In the past, I have often heard people say ‘somebody should do something,’” Olshefski reflected. “We are striving to show the Scouts that we are the somebody who should do something, and provide support for them to actually do that. Over and over, the scouting organizations in our community are doing something. It is a privilege to help facilitate that process.”

Olshefski noted that watching Scouts from different organizations work together as one cohesive unit highlighted just how deeply woven these young people are into the fabric of Farmington.

That sentiment was echoed by attendee Jeff Hogan, who shared his gratitude with the troop leadership following the ceremony, remarking on the visible attentiveness of the youth throughout the evening.

"For every event that I’ve attended, I’m incredibly impressed with the Scouts and how engaged and engaging they are," Hogan shared. "In a country that has seemingly forgotten or ignored many of the sacrifices of its military and first responders, all of you are teaching kids the principles that will make them thoughtful and participating citizens in the future, and in some instances, leaders."

Connolly shared that seeing the youth take ownership of carrying remembrance forward was both personal and profound, proving that their presence was about far more than reciting history lessons.

“Their participation was not simply about remembering history, it was about understanding the values that emerged from that day: service, courage, sacrifice, compassion, and our responsibility to one another,” Connolly stated. “They are not simply the future of Farmington; they are already contributing to the character of our community through their willingness to serve, remember, and honor others.”

“I am filled with pride for Farmington’s future,” Connolly added. “Watching our Scouts lead this 9/11 remembrance and flag retirement ceremony reminded me that service is something we pass from one generation to the next. The example we set today can inspire the leaders and community servants of tomorrow. These young people are already showing us that the future of Farmington is in very good hands.”

Twenty-five years later, the message from the park remains clear and enduring: Farmington remembers, reflects, and recommits.

Interested in empowering the next generation of community leaders through character-building, outdoor adventure, and hands-on service? Visit the Troop 170 or Pack 170 websites to learn how your family can get involved in local Scouting.