Somerville To Mark 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 With Remembrance Event

SOMERVILLE, MA — The city is inviting community members to attend its annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in Davis Square this month, marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and honoring the victims, first responders, workers, and volunteers affected by the attacks.

The ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. at the 9/11 Memorial in Davis Square, located on the traffic island at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Elm Street. The free event is organized by the Somerville Veterans' Services Department. (City of Somerville)

The observance will include a moment of silence, an invocation and benediction by Father Paul Coughlin, and remarks from Mayor Jake Wilson and Veterans Director Jerome Thomas. A bagpipe tribute will follow, and attendees will receive individual roses to place on the memorial. The Somerville Police and Fire Department Honor Guards will also present and retire the colors during the ceremony.

“On this solemn day we remember the lives lost, honor the bravery of first responders, and offer support to their families and communities as we continue to heal as a country from the trauma of that day,” Wilson said. “Unity is our strength, so may we also honor their memory by continuing to look out for each other.”

Somerville's 9/11 Memorial dates back to the aftermath of the attacks, when residents spontaneously gathered around an existing granite compass rose in Davis Square and left flowers, candles, and signs. Somerville sculptor Hilary Scott was later commissioned to create a permanent addition to the site. Scott added a granite bezel, which is a device used on compasses to indicate direction, inscribed with the words “community, service, hope and courage.” The memorial was unveiled on the first anniversary of the attacks in 2002.

The city has continued to hold annual 9/11 observances at the Davis Square memorial in the years since. Ward 4 Councilor Jesse Clingan said this year's 25th anniversary provides an opportunity to remember both the tragedy of the attacks and the response that followed.

“As we reflect on the 25th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we owe it to those we lost on that day to remember not only the horror we experienced as a nation, but also the compassion, unity, and sense of community that followed,” Clingan said. “It truly reflected the best of the American spirit.”

The ceremony will be recorded by Somerville GovTV and made available online with optional closed captioning, with videos generally posted within one business day. Residents who need disability accommodations can contact the city's ADA coordinator at 617-625-6600 ext. 2059. Free language interpretation is also available and can be requested by contacting the city at least seven days before the ceremony. Residents seeking additional information can contact 311 at 617-666-3311.

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