Mass. Families Remember Loved Ones Killed On Sept. 11
BOSTON (CBS/AP) - Under the same blue skies as ten years ago, hundreds gathered Sunday at the State House to remember those killed on September 11th, 2001.
Check: 9/11 - 10 Years Later
Family members were joined by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Governor Patrick and other state leaders for a ceremony outside.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports.
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Bugles played as State Police lowered the flag to half staff.
Everyone paused for at 8:46 a.m. for a minute of silence.
Raw Video: Gov. Patrick presents American flag at Statehouse; trooper sings Star Spangled Banner
Then, the Governor, the US Attorney, the Attorney General, and several family members read the names of the 206 people with ties to Massachusetts who were killed that day.
Afterwards, the crowd moved inside for the presentation of the Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Bravery. Sweeney was a flight attendant on September 11th who helped relay information about the hijackers to ground control before she was killed. Her daughter Anna was just 5 at the time, and says she isn't able to remember very much about her mother, but gain strength from the stories about her, and from watching the video tapes her mother made of their family when she was young.
"I am able to watch those tapes and imagine what my life would be like if she was here with us,"
Secretary Napolitano told the crowd she says she keeps a piece of steel from the North Tower of the World Trade on her desk and is reminded of 9/11 every day.
"While it is a reminder of a tragedy, it is also a reminder that on one of our darkest days, we saw some of the best of America," said Secretary Napolitano.
Secretary Napolitano said the memories of the people lost strengthen our will to be better prepared and more ready to respond.
"As we see just this week, threats against our nation have not gone away. All of us continue to play a role in being vigilant," said Secretary Napolitano.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports from Ground Zero:
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Vicki Kennedy talked about her late husband, Senator Ted Kennedy, and the loss they all feel.
"Far too many were lost on that day of infamy and bravery… Each of them was individual, unique, irreplaceable," said Kennedy.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports from Boston:
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This year, the Sweeney award was presented to the family of Angelica Guerrero, the West Springfield mother who was killed while shielding her daughter during the June 1st tornado. Her daughter held the award, but was too upset to talk.
Guerrero's husband Juan emotionally thanked the crowd, saying, "Keep your family members in your heart. That is the only present no one can take away from you."
