Hillsborough Gathers at Woods Road Firehouse for Solemn Annual 9/11 Memorial Service

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — In a poignant display of unity, reverence, and enduring remembrance, over 200 community members, emergency personnel, and local leaders gathered last Friday evening at the Woods Road Firehouse (Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Company No. 3) for its annual September 11 memorial service.

Among the crowd paying their respects were several community leaders, including State Senator Andrew Zwicker, Assemblyman Roy Freiman, Somerset County Commissioners Shanel Robinson and Paul Drake, and Hillsborough Township Committeewoman Samantha Hand, alongside other community leaders and first responders from across the area.
The gathering marked a continuation of a tradition held for the past 16 years, centering around a sacred artifact: an authentic piece of structural steel recovered from the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

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The journey to bring the steel to Hillsborough began when the fire company applied for a specialized grant. Securing the artifact was an intensive two-year process to finalize the contract and arrange for its transfer before the department officially acquired the steel in 2010. In the grant application, the firehouse detailed its plan to build a dedicated Memorial Garden—a tranquil space created to host formal remembrance services and serve as a permanent, welcoming sanctuary where local residents can visit at any time to reflect and remember.

While the department did not respond to the scene on September 11, 2001, several Woods Road members answered the call to assist at Ground Zero in the difficult aftermath. As the Memorial Garden took shape around the artifact, the idea for an annual community 9/11 memorial service evolved organically, becoming a cornerstone local event that continues to unite the township each September.

The ceremony was led by former Chief and current firefighter Tim Coyle, who served as Master of Ceremonies, guiding attendees through reflections on service and resilience alongside current Fire Chief Matt Hand. Reflecting on the enduring spirit of local emergency services, Coyle and Chief Hand shared a joint message honoring their fellow personnel:
"Our volunteer firefighters give the community their calm in the middle of chaos—and that calm comes at a cost most of us never see. We couldn't be prouder to be part of a team that gives their all, all of the time."

A central theme of the evening was recognizing active first responders—especially Hillsborough's dedicated volunteer corps—along with a direct call to action encouraging residents to follow in their footsteps by giving back through community service.

Featured speaker Committeewoman Samantha Hand, who also leads the Woods Road Firehouse Auxiliary, delivered a moving reflection on the monumental sacrifices made by both civilians and responders on 9/11. She emphasized the continuous risks first responders willingly shoulder each day, placing special praise on the town's volunteers who dedicate their personal time, careers, and safety to protect their neighbors.

Adding to the emotional resonance of the service, the powerful, mournful strains of bagpipes echoed across the station grounds. An adult piper performed alongside a young elementary school bagpiper, creating an intergenerational tribute that symbolized the solemn responsibility of passing the promise to "Never Forget" to the next generation.
Following the ceremony, attendees were invited to channel the evening's spirit of remembrance into positive action. Several local organizations hosted informational tables outside the station to connect residents with community-based volunteer opportunities. Groups on hand included the Hillsborough-based food pantry Feeding Hands, Good Grief, the local Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts led by Hillsborough co-leader Meghann Valeo, the VFW, the mental health and suicide prevention initiative BoroSafe with Jane Staats, and the Woods Road Fire House Auxiliary.

Surrounded by fellowship, service groups, and the quiet solemnity of the Twin Towers steel in the Memorial Garden, the evening reaffirmed Hillsborough's enduring dedication to honoring history through action, remembrance, and community unity.