By Rod Hansen
Staff Writer

Dawn Brown of Goffstown holds an American flag during a community vigil on the Goffstown town common on Monday, Sept. 11. Brown’s husband, Al, is a supply sergeant for the Army and spent 14 months away from home to serve in Iraq. (The Goffstown News/Bruce Preston)

Half a decade has passed since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, but the memories remained fresh at a recent community vigil commemorating the anniversary of that day.

Nearly 100 people gathered on the town common Monday, Sept. 11, a cloudless morning similar to the one five years ago when hijacked airplanes flew into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in rural Pennsylvania.

Monday’s community vigil, organized by the Goffstown Public Library, took place at 8:45 a.m., the moment the first plane flew into the World Trade Center.

“Today we ask that you remember those who died on that day, and that you do something positive as a tribute to those who died,” said the Rev. William Exner of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church.

The events of Sept. 11, 2001, have a special significance for Exner. His friend Anna Allison of Stoneham, Mass., was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, the first flight to strike the World Trade Center.

Exner read a prayer written by Allison’s husband, Blake, in tribute to the couple, who he said were longtime friends of his.

Pastor Charlie Ford of the Congregational Church of Goffstown also spoke at the vigil, remembering Tom McGuinness, the Portsmouth resident and pilot of Flight 11 who also died in the attacks.

Ford also commemorated the first responding firefighters, police, and volunteers for their recovery efforts.

Library assistant Jessica Stevens, one of the vigil organizers, said the gathering is part of the September Project, a global effort to remember the events of Sept. 11.

Stevens said a letter from September Project organizer Bill Erbes of the Bensenville, Ill., Public Library, inspired Goffstown’s library to get involved in the September Project.

Stevens read some of Erbes’ comments to illustrate why libraries play an important role in remembering Sept. 11.

“Libraries represent everything antithetical to that which gives rise to misunderstanding, hatred, fanaticism and terrorism.

“There can be no more fitting tribute, no more appropriate commemoration of Sept. 11, 2001, than for libraries across the United States to simply be there,” Stevens quoted Erbes as saying.

The library has initiated a number of activities to commemorate Sept. 11, Stevens said. Those efforts include Wishes for our World, the placement of 3,000 stars around town to commemorate the people who died in the attacks.

The library is also showing the films “The Guys” and “Seven Days in September” to commemorate the anniversary, as well as hosting a speech on civil liberties in America in the post-Sept. 11 era.

Following the community vigil, library Director Dianne Hathaway said she was pleased with the enthusiastic turnout, and even slightly surprised.

“We had twice the amount of people we expected,” Hathaway said, adding that she quickly ran out of the 50 programs she’d printed for the occasion.

“We’re hoping to make this an annual event,” Hathaway said.

Don Caron, a member of the color guard and 20-year veteran of the Marines, also said he was surprised by the heavy turnout.

“This is a good event, and very appropriate for Sept. 11,” Caron said. “When we first got here, we didn’t think a lot of people were going to show up. But as we got closer to 8:45, more and more people got here. It’s good to see so many people remember,” he said.