Vernon Commemorates 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 With Moving Ceremony

VERNON, CT — First responders and officials in Vernon Friday commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in a moving ceremony at the Fox Hill Tower at Henry Park.

In her invocation, the Rev. Alisa Dickhoff, the Vernon Fire Department chaplain and the First Congregational Church pastor, said that before the attacks that day, "people traveled about in airplanes, served the public, and were going about an ordinary day."

Then things changed.

"Now we gather with those who survived ... and those who continue to carry wounds," she said.

Things certainly changed that day for Vernon Fire Marshal Dan Wasliewski and Vernon Police Chief Marc Petruzzi, who were a young firefighter and state trooper, respectively, in 2001.

Wasilewski remembers finishing shifts in East Hartford, where he was in service a the time, saying quick hellos to family members and then changing into his dress uniform to attend funerals.

"Fortunately, we were not needed in New York City that day, but were were for the next several months," he said. "I remember being out in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral seeing a long line of responders. Next to me was someone from Australia, who flew here at his own expense. I realized then it affected the whole world."

With that in mind, Petruzzi said, Not only remember Sept. 11, but Sept. 12.

"We had to take a body blow not seen since 1941," he said. "But after, we saw the true level of heroism and determination of America."

Fire Chief Steve Eppler reminded those at the ceremony to always remember the sacrifices of the victims an families.

The Rockville High School band set the stage with the National Anthem. Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne put things in perspective.

"Twenty-Five years ago, America was attacked — attacked as a whole," Champagne said. "Then, came the aftermath and we watched America come together as one."