Tolland Businessman Pledges To 'Never Forget' 9/11 With Display

TOLLAND, CT — A Tolland businessman has made it a personal mission to "never forget" the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

So, each year around this time, a commemorative display goes up at Morrison and Johnson automotive business on 390 Merrow Road — state Route 195.

"I had to do something," said Glenn Johnson, who runs the business with his wife, Holly. "Its a day we should never forget. It was a day that changed all of our lives."

The display has been up for about eight years, Johnson said. It has been fashioned out of vinyl and spreads across the lawn of the business. Johnson usually puts the display up on the Labor Day weekend and leaves it up until the third week in September.

"I collected picture after picture and then just had to put it all together," Johnson said. "As I've beocme older, it has affected me more.

Johnson said he hopes to eventually get a piece of of the World Trade Center to complete the display and maybe even make it more permanent.

Tolland Public Safety Supervisor John Littell called the Johnsons, "the type of people that make communities great."

The Johnsons also help fund the annual Santa Tour — a sled pulled by a fire vehicle that takes Santa around Tolland and to area shelters to mee children and pass out gifts. THey have done it for 11 years now.