A Soggy 9/11

At the first remembrance ceremony which I attended at 8:46 am today in Somerville, Robert Zaborowski, Somerville County Freeholder Director, holding back emotion, made a brief announcement at the memorial and clock tower near the courthouse, prior to the tolling of the bell in memory of those from our county who lost their lives on this fateful day 6 years ago.

One unanticipated personal tribute was that of a woman who, after the official ceremony was over, walked to the tower, rested her outstretched arm against one of its columns, and held that position for a few moments with her head bowed. As she walked away, I thought that I recognized her simply as “Judy,” the person who is behind the counter at Shanahan’s Stationery in downtown Somerville.

Later, at 12:00 noon, outside the Bridgewater Municipal Building, several tents were in place to shield the dignitaries and Bridgewater family members who suffered losses on that fateful day.

Almost as if on command, the skies emptied torrents of rain on those assembled. Most were not under cover. A line of umbrella-wielding people stood in front of the building, while others managed with only raingear as protection. A brave law enforcement honor guard stood in mute attention the whole time, in columns six across and four deep, as the rain completely soaked their uniforms.

Bridgewater Mayor, Patricia Flannery, stepped to the lectern for a short statement and presented Rabbi Ron Isaacs of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater for the introductory prayer. The mayor herself; NJ Assemblyman, Kip Bateman; as well as Congressman Mike Ferguson, addressed the crowd with brief but significant patriotic messages about the meaning of 9/11, our troops in Iraq, and for the need never to forget. Bridgewater Councilman Howard Norgalis, who is also a fire commissioner read A Fireman’s Prayer.

The wreath-laying ceremony took place at the height of the storm, with the mayor under cover of an umbrella, as she quickly scuttled across the lawn and back to the protection of the tent.

I was buoyed by the fact that here, in Bridgewater, we can still proudly and publicly recite the unaltered pledge of allegiance, have a Rabbi offer a prayer at an official ceremony, and hear a bagpipe-playing officer render the beautiful sounds of “Amazing Grace” rising up during a torrential downpour.