Westport, CT – On Wednesday, state leaders and families of the September 11 victims gathered at Sherwood Island State Park for the annual living memorial ceremony marking 25 years since the attacks.
Personal reflections and remembrance
The ceremony honored the 161 Connecticut residents who lost their lives on 9/11. Survivors and relatives shared heartfelt memories. Sophie Pelletier Martinelli recalled her husband Mike’s work at the World Trade Center and said, “Resilience does not mean the pain disappears or we always feel strong. It means finding a way to keep going, one day, sometimes one moment at a time.”
Trevor Ugolyn spoke about his brother Tyler, a 23‑year‑old Columbia graduate who had just begun a research associate position in the towers. “My relationship did not sever with Tyler that day,” he said. “It was transformed. He continues to be my best friend in memory and conversation, and still shapes the person that I am.”
State officials join families
Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz walked among the engraved names, pausing at the plaque for Diane Bullis Snyder, a former flight attendant whose last shift was on American Airlines Flight 11 that struck the North Tower. Her brother, Brad Bullis, helps organize the ceremony on behalf of the families.
“I know how much it means to me and how important this time of year is to reflect and remember everybody,” Brad said. “And not just the people that we lost, but the families that were affected by those losses.”
Honoring first responders and future generations
Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz highlighted the sacrifice of hundreds of first responders who died on 9/11 and the thousands who have suffered long‑term health effects from toxic exposure. The surviving family members urged younger generations, born after the attacks, to remember how the nation changed that day so they can build a better tomorrow.
“We honor the life and courage of our loved ones,” Pelletier Martinelli added. “We promise they will never be forgotten.”
The ceremony underscored Westport’s commitment to preserving the memory of those lost while offering comfort and solidarity to the families who continue to bear the legacy of that tragic day.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
