Sep 11, 2008 1:06 pm US/Eastern
State House Ceremony Marks 9/11 Anniversary
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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A mid-morning ceremony was held at the Massachusetts State House to honor the lives lost on 9/11.
WBZ
Under a blue, but not brilliant sky like the one seven years ago, hundreds gathered on the State House steps to remember the victims of
September 11, 2001.
The flag was lowered to half staff, and a brass band played the haunting hymn "Prayer" by Norman Bolter. One by one the names of the Massachusetts victims were read aloud.
Seven years have passed, but the sadness is ever present.
"Well, it just feels like a hole in my heart." said Dorothy Grodberg, who lost her daughter Lynn. "She's not with me anymore, I miss her terribly."
Irene Ross is missing her brother Richard. "When you don't think of them, you feel them around you, when you think of them, you miss them more."
The ceremonies continued inside the State House, where families shared poems and reflections.
Then Lt. Gov Tim Murray awarded the Madeline "Amy" Sweeney Award for civilian bravery.
Sweeney was a flight attendant on board American Flight 11, who called in valuable information during the
hijacking.
The award in her name went to
Ben Papapietro of Sudbury. He escaped last May's deadly crash on the
Green Line in Newton only to rush back into a burning car to help a woman who was trapped.
He accepted the award in front of 9/11 family members who smiled, some for the first time that day. The anniversary is a tough day for them, but they know it's a good reminder to the rest of us.
"It brings the country to awareness again." said Christie Coombs, who lost her husband, Jeff. "Just standing on the steps and seeing people walk by stop and reflect and acknowledge what's going on means everything to families."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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