Burlington Honors Those Fallen in September 11 Attacks [Images]

The Town of Burlington remembered the events of September 11, 2001 with a special memorial ceremony this morning to honor those lost over a decade ago and those who bravely risked, and sometimes gave, their lives in the rescue operations in New York and Washington D.C.

The ceremony began at 9:50 a.m. this morning when firefighters and members of the Police Department gathered in formation on the Town Commons.

Firefighter Ernie Covino and Officer Steven Papagno raised the flag to half-staff, followed by the reading of the Firefighter's Prayer by Fire Lt. Jim Sorenson. 

 After the flag was raised there was a moment of silence in honor of those lost in the attacks.

The ceremony ended with the "Tolling of the Bells" at 9:59 p.m. to symbolize the collapse of the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

Burlington was also tragically affected on that day. The town lost four people in the attacks, pilot Thomas F. McGuinness, Jr., coach Jim Trentini and his wife Mary Trentini and Robert Jay Hayes. To honor their memory the town constructed a 9/11 Memorial on the Burlington Town Commons with the names of the people lost that day and a plaque that reads "Always Flying High." 

Burlington also lost a son in Operation Iraqi Freedom. L/Cpl Greg MacDonald died on June 25, 2003 while serving his country in Iraq when the light armored vehicle he was traveling in rolled over.