"The past four years have presented many challenges, but, as always, the people of Greenwich have come together as a community to put the interests of Greenwich first and to enhance our wonderful town."

- Peter Tesei

Town of Greenwich September 11, 2011 Remembrance Ceremony First Selectman Peter J. Tesei Remarks

Good evening to all gathered for Greenwich’s September 11th remembrance ceremony. Thank you for being with us to remember our fellow residents and all the innocent people lost that sad day ten years ago. Thank you to Christopher Hughes and the September 11th Remembrance Committee for once again organizing this year’s ceremony.

A very special thank you to the Greenwich Fellowship of Clergy for their weekend worship services focused on providing spiritual comfort, guidance, reflection and faith to our community as we remain challenged in our understanding of the horrible events of a decade ago. I have attended two of these services earlier today.

This morning I joined Rabbi Deren and members of the Chabad Greenwich Community at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park for a memorial prayer to remember and honor the memories of those lost. We acknowledged our unity as a nation in support of the defense of freedom, liberty and sanctity of life. It was a poignant setting on Greenwich Harbor and the weather was reminiscent of that tragic day.

At Second Congregational Church – where my family attends services – we heard the uplifting words of Rev. Holly Adams and Rev. Christopher Tate who called upon us to not dwell and be angry about the heinous acts against our humanity but rather remember the courageous acts of humanity that took place in the face of such adversity.

These services, and the many others happening throughout our town, remind us that the strength of our community lies in our religious, ethnic and cultural diversity. Greenwich is emblematic of our nation and represents the supreme strength of America, and its ideals for which no adversary can destroy.

Tonight we gather as we have for the past 9 to collectively support the families who lost those who they held most dear. These victims were fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors. They were a part of the Greenwich community and each year we vow to pay our respect to each of them and the lives they lived and shared with our community.

We commit ourselves to remember them - always - through ceremonies, memorials, prayer vigils and by continuing to uphold the American principles of liberty and freedom.

Through our unified display of community and support for the families of those lost and a resolve to always remember them, we demonstrate to those that committed such heinous acts that they will never break our steadfast commitment to liberty and freedom.

Thank you to all those who are part of this year's remembrance ceremony; the First & Second Company Governor's Horse Guard, Greenwich’s first Responders Police, Fire and EMS , the young men and woman from the Greenwich Boys and Girls Club, the Boys Scouts of America - Greenwich Council, the Greenwich Fellowship of Clergy and the American Red Cross. All of you are exemplify the moral character of our community.

In closing I share with you a poem by Deanna Edwards Titled: Remembering You

Remember me whenever you see a sunrise,
Remember me whenever you see a star,
Remember me whenever you see a rainbow
Or woods in autumn colors from afar.

Remember me whenever you see the roses
Or seagulls sailing high in a sky of blue.
Remember me whenever you see waves
Shining in the sun.
And remember, I'll be remembering you!

Remember me whenever you see a teardrop,
Or meadows still wet with the morning dew.
Remember me whenever you feel love
Growing in your heart.
And remember, I'll be remembering you!