By Olivia Zmarlicki-Germano

FARMINGTON – For the Scouts from Troop 170 who created, organized, and executed the program to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the words spoken by their guest speakers—Conor Hogan whose father, Jeff Hogan, along with members of the Farmington Fire Department, went to Ground Zero in New York City in the days following the 9/11 attack; Brian F.X. Connolly, town council chair; and Father George Roberts of St. James Church—seemed almost unreal. And yet, they knew without a doubt that the stories they were told about that tragic day were meant to ensure that the memories of those who lost their lives would never fade. 

As everyone stood in reverence, surrounded by the engines and firefighters from the Town of Farmington Fire Departments—East Farms, Farmington, and Tunxis Hose—the UConn Fire Department, members of the Farmington Police Department, CERT, the VFW, the American Legion, the Daughters of the American Revolution, State Representative Mike Demicco, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and community members.

They listened as Nicholas Bystricky, a Scout from Troop 170, read from a program prepared by another Scout and Eagle candidate, Jacob Sulewski: “Because we made a promise that we will never forget all the men and women who lost their lives that day; the people on the four planes, the employees at the Twin Towers, all the first responders who bravely went toward the buildings when everyone else was running away, and those who suffer today because of diseases brought on by the debris from the towers and from the pain of losing their loved ones.” He continued, “We are here today teaching new generations what it means to honor the fallen and love this country.” He also recognized Farmington’s part in the response: “The Town of Farmington played an integral role in the response to the 9/11 attacks when Farmington’s Engine 4 and 9 firefighters responded directly to Ground Zero rescue and recovery efforts.” 

For twenty-five years, with the exception of one cancellation due to a tornado warning, Troop 170 of Unionville organized and carried out a memorial service to honor the fallen. Generations of Scouts who had learned to follow the Scout Law, earned their Eagle rank through hundreds of projects that benefited their communities, and gone on to become doctors, lawyers, and other professionals, or joined the armed forces or police departments, had organized and participated in these ceremonies. For many, they were among the experiences that shaped their lives and the lives of those they would go on to touch, carrying with them a strong belief in the importance of service and honor. 

Conor Hogan, a Farmington Fire Department volunteer and later career firefighter, Bristol Police officer and K-9 handler, and currently a member of the Central Region Emergency Response Team serving as an explosive breacher, was in seventh grade at IAR when our country was attacked. His life, like so many others, was shaped by the events of that day. He offered a message that was meant to be far more than one of only remembrance. It was one of hope and inspiration. It came from deep within his heart—a charge to us all “to honor the legacy of our nation’s patriots who were lost that day”: through service, and to make a difference through the simple acts of everyday life.  “Communities need helpers. They need people to run towards danger, to fight evil, to do the right thing,” Hogan emphasized that it “That doesn’t mean that every community member needs to become a first responder to be a valuable member. Help your neighbor if you see they need it. Hold the door for someone walking into a store. Look people in the eye when you speak with them. Say please and thank you. If you see an American flag tangled on a pole, fix it. There are simple ways to change someone’s day and improve your community.” 

In a moving tribute, a chair was brought forth and placed in the center of the field. The Scouts continued to speak, explaining that the empty chair symbolized “a place of honor for those who had given their lives in the service of our country, especially the 2,977 victims who lost their lives 25 years ago; the firemen who ran into the burning buildings, the police officers who followed their ‘Save and Protect’ motto despite the imminent danger unfolding before them, and all the innocents who were simply there to work.” 

In conclusion of the ceremony, as everyone stood side by side on that early fall afternoon in unity, Troop 170 of Unionville, with the help of the communities of Unionville and Farmington, retired the torn and tattered American flags they had collected throughout the year. “When a flag has fulfilled his duty to your country, when it has become worn and tattered, we retire it with honor. No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. We are not burning him in anger; we are only releasing his spirit so that he can continue to serve us in our thoughts.” 

Taps, performed on a bugle by Assistant Scoutmaster David Tabol, rang through the air as the community said goodbye to our flag that had “walked in silence with each of our honored dead to their final resting place” and had “flown through peace and war, strife and prosperity.” Folks stood by in reverence, remembering the fallen, with thoughts of our great country, the people who gave their lives so we could be free, and the charge given to us by Conor Hogan: “What are you doing today when it actually matters and when the opportunity to be that hero, that helper, that good community matters?”