A solemn remembrance: And a celebration of good over evil
by Mark Jahne
Editor
Photos by Mark Jahne
Anyone who was alive then will never forget the horror of the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001, that took the lives of nearly 3,000 people.
Thousands of people gathered five days later on the Broad Street Green for a spontaneous candlelight vigil. They were there to express sadness and shock, as well as hope. They were also there to support Judy Keane, who lives along the green.
Her husband Richard was among those who perished when the World Trade Center’s twin towers collapsed after being struck by hijacked commercial airliners. He was one three residents who died that day. Jeffrey Bittner and David Winton also lost their lives.
Fred Kuo’s father, Fred Kuo Jr., also died. The younger man did not live in town at that time, but he does now.
Twenty-five years later, hundreds gathered on the green again the evening of Sept. 11 for a solemn memorial event. But it was also a celebration of how good people rose up and turned tragedy into something wonderful.
One of those people is Judy Keane. Shortly after the attack, she decided to create a charitable foundation in her husband’s name to serve the children of Wethersfield. The Richard M. Keane Foundation thrives to do this day.
“This is a special day, a day of remembrance,” Mayor Ken Lesser said.
The Wethersfield High School Choralaires kicked off the event by singing the National Anthem. Younger children who participated in summer musicals sponsored by the Keane Foundation performed a medley of patriotic songs.
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Wethersfield native, and U.S. Rep. John Larson were among the dignitaries in attendance. WFSB-TV 3 personality Scot Haney served as master of ceremonies.
“I’m really grateful that Wethersfield and so many communities around the state have made the commitment to remember and memorialize,” Haney said.
A total of 161 Connecticut residents died that day. He praised the Keane Foundation as an exceptional nonprofit organization and spoke of how the country pulled together and united back in 2001.
“We were at our best in those immediate days after,” he said. “It was a beautiful response to a very ugly day.”
“Raise your hand if you remember where you were on Sept. 11, 2001,” Larson said.
Hundreds of hands went up. He lost a sister in the attack. She worked with Richard Keane.
“America came together because of the kind of people that we are,” he said.
Larson also spoke about how the Capitol Police strongly encouraged members of Congress to leave the U.S. Capitol because there was fear that another hijacked plane might strike that building. He praised the quick and bipartisan response of senators and representatives who decided to stand fast in that time of need rather than flee.
Zainab Fatima Husain, a student at Hanmer School, won an essay contest co-sponsored by the Wethersfield Library and the foundation. She read her essay to the crowd. Howard Greenblatt, a longtime officer of the Keane Foundation, recalled that candlelight vigil 25 years ago.
“More than 5,000 people filled the green for an emotional show of support. The solemn events of 9/11 were the inspiration for the creation of the Richard M. Keane Foundation,” he said.
Wethersfield Poet Laureate Evan Goldstein read a poem he composed for this event entitled “Company.” Then it was Judy Keane’s turn to speak. She talked of the many first responders who lost their lives that day and paid tribute to those who were at the event.
“I cannot say enough about the Wethersfield police and fire departments,” she said, while also praising physical services and parks and recreation for working closely with the foundation over the years.
“Sept. 11 was a pivotal point in American history. It’s still in our hearts,” she added. “This was the largest loss of life from a foreign attack in U.S. history. We have grieved together from the beginning.”
Sara Winton Coffey spoke emotionally about her brother David and their friend Jeffrey Bittner who both died in the attack. She remembered their kindness and generosity.
“I’ve pretty much gone through this day with a pit in my chest” thinking about his late father and speaking at the memorial, Fred Kuo said.
He joined the Keane Foundation after moving to town with his family.
Bobbie Hughes Granato, chairperson of the Board of Education, was a second grade teacher at Charles Wright School the day of the attack. She recalled how even the youngest children could sense that something was terribly wrong and how the staff and faculty did everything they could to protect and reassure them.
She also praised Judy Keane and all those involved with the foundation for creating a wonderful legacy.
“From terrible sadness, they created hope … they have touched the lives of thousands of children,” Granato said.
She said it is important to not only talk about how these people died, but about how they lived their lives, and how the Keane Foundation serves “children whose lives continue to be enriched in his name.”
Mayor Lesser wrapped things up with words of high praise for Judy Keane.
“There is no other single person who has done more for Wethersfield over the past 25 years,” he said.
Crowd members offered her a standing ovation. As darkness fell over the green, the Col. John Chester Fife and Drum Corps performed colonial music. Connecticut’s oldest junior fife and drum corps, it was founded in Wethersfield in 1940. WL