Lane's Remarks on September 11, 2005

These remarks are from "Remember September 11th: An Ecumenical Community Candlelight Memorial Service" at the First Congregational Church of Rowley, United Church of Christ. I spoke on behalf of the Board of Selectmen.

Good evening. Selectman Steve White is tending to his family, and sends his regrets.

Not one of us is untouched by the events of September 11th four years ago. Even if we did not suffer a loss directly, our friends, colleagues, or neighbors lost people dear to them. By extension, we did too. The pain continues to touch our lives.

We are all diminished by the loss of members of our immediate family, our local and extended community, and our common humanity. Our Family.

But our community, our humanity, our Family, will never be completely lost as long as we remember.

For we are strengthened by our Family too.

We see selfless acts in the face of unspeakable horror.

We are moved by the crew and passengers of Flight 93, sacrificing themselves. We are warmed by the actions of strangers helping other strangers: saving lives, gathering supplies or information, sharing food and water, aiding the sick and injured. We are heartened by the response of our brothers and sisters, from those in uniform who daily risk their lives, to those who never expect an on-the-job injury more serious than a papercut, to everyone in between.

But even in our daily lives, when not reacting to a national tragedy, our Family sustains us.
We are strengthened by the volunteer at the Council on Aging, or the Red Cross, or the elementary school.
By the grandparent caring for a child.
By the teenager who walks her neighbor’s dogs or helps shovel snow.
By the passerby who stops to pick up a piece of litter, or holds open a door.
By the sharing of kind words and thoughts about others, living or departed.

September 11 and other tragedies ought to serve as reminders that each selfless act, large or small, seen or unseen, is important to us all.

Thank you.