Milford's Freedom Memorial Dedication & 9/11 Remembrance


Program cover photo montage by Len Mannino
 
The Milford community held a public gathering on September 11th to remember the events of 9/11/01, to honor the victims and the heroes of that day, and to dedicate the new Freedom Memorial. Common threads throughout the remarks shared by the guest speakers and dignitaries were about unity, hope and service above self.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jerry Guthrie, Memorial Park Committee Chairman, explained how the South Tower steel floor truss, donated by the New York City Fire Department and now mounted on Milford granite, points to the North star. The memorial's plaque reads as follows:
 
September 11, 2001, was a tragic day for our nation. Yet in its aftermath, Americans came together in a moment of unity.
As the mythological Phoenix rises from ashes and is reborn, this symbolizes the journey from tragedy towards healing, strength, and hope.
Like the Phoenix, we believe in renewal and resurrection. It reminds us that even in the face of loss, hope is present.
This piece of steel from the South Tower was entrusted to Milford, NH by the New York City Fire Department. 
It is pointing towards the North Star. In darkness, the light can give us direction. We will treasure this gift forever.
God bless America.

Please click the Read More button to read President Tom Young's inspiring words and find links to additional pictures and a video of the event (available when posted by the Town)
Milford Rotary President Tom Young's remarks
The Milford Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, a global service organization with 1.2 million members in 35,000 clubs in 200 countries. As Rotarians, we abide by the motto “Service above Self”. Both financially and through our actions, we seek to serve those in need both in our communities and around the world, and do what we can to change the world for the better. Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary International, once said “My hope for the future is that through our worldwide fellowship of businesses and professionals, united in the ideal of service, we shall achieve our goal of international understanding, goodwill, and cooperation for the welfare of all mankind.”
 
25 years ago today, in the wake of the awful devastation and loss of life that unfolded on that morning, when it seemed that humanity at its worst had triumphed, one might have been forgiven for thinking that Paul Harris’ hope seemed unattainable. But the many heroic first responders and ordinary citizens who risked—and in many cases, lost—their lives to help others in the greatest need, took service above self to the highest level and served as an example of humanity at its very best. And the entire world seemed to come together to support us and stand together in opposition to humanity at its worst.
 
Today we unite to honor the memories of those heroes, to mourn the lives that were lost, and to look forward to taking  opportunity to serve whenever we are called to do so. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did...” Not only CAN we never forget what those heroes did 25 years ago, we MUST never forget. Their embodiment of the ideal of service above self should inspire us all and give us the very hope for the future that Paul Harris envisioned.
 
Notable quotes from the guest speakers
 
John Weidman, Director of the Andres Institute of Art in Brookline and the sculptor who designed the Freedom Memorial, noted about the monument. “It’s rising up and that’s what we do as a country and may we always do so because, no matter what, we’re still the United States of America.” He added “The fact that you are here today is an example of that coming up out of the ashes into the future for what we stand for — mainly freedom, individuality and love.” 
 
Gov. Kelly Ayotte  - “I hope young people who are here understand what happened that day, but also understand the lessons of that day. And that is, as Americans, what we share is so much greater than what divides us. We saw the unity of the country after we were attacked on Sept. 11, and we have to remember what that unity felt like."
 
Senator Maggie Hassan - The Freedom Memorial stands as a “physical reminder” for future generations. “We experienced great evil that day … but we also experienced America at its best,” she said. “The terrorists who launched the attacks thought they would expose our weaknesses. Instead, they revealed our resolve.”
 
Congresswoman. Maggie Goodlander - “Remembrance has been made tangible and permanent with this living memorial. … I truly cannot imagine a more powerful symbol — steel carried out of a place of unimaginable destruction now held in granite from our own ground." And she emphasized it was Milford granite, from The Granite Town.
 
In a follow-up article, Kathryn Marchocki Union Leader Correspondent summed it up - For many "the overriding message of the day: We honor the tragic losses set in motion by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. But we’re still standing. We are resilient. And we will never forget."  -
 
Organized by
Milford Rotary Club—Pete Basiliere and Mark Fougere, co-chairs
Freedom Memorial Committee—Jerry Guthrie, chair
Milford Emergency Services—Fire Chief Ken Flaherty, Police Chief Mike Viola, and Ambulance Director Kenneth Larry and DPW Director Leo Lessard
 
With Special Thanks to
Milford High School Chorus—Jennifer Erdody, Director
Program Cover montage—Len Mannino
Paul Revere Bell Ringer—Mike Bracani
Guest speakers sharing Reflections on 9/11 - Select Board Chair Gary Daniels, Rotary Club President Tom Young,
Governor Kelly Ayotte, Senator Maggie Hassan, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, Captain Shawn Pelletier, Milford PD
 
Freedom Memorial
Sculptor: John Weidman
Landscape Architect: Jerry Guthrie
Committee: Jerry Guthrie - Chair, Gail Bloom, Doug Cave, Gene Gregory, Rodney Dellafelice, Rick Mossey, John Weidman
 

 
More photos available in our Photo Album - Click Here
Video of the ceremony provided by the Granite Town Media - Click Here (available soon via YouTube)