Day of remembrance for 9/11

NORTH CANAAN — The Knights of Columbus and St. Joseph’s Church will again host a 9/11 vigil and 40 hours of continuous prayers, devotions and  remembrances of those lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

This is an expansion of last year’s World Day of Prayer for Peace, held at the church under a giant American flag flown from the top of a fire truck aerial ladder. This year’s event will start at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, and extend over two days and nights, culminating with a service on Saturday morning.

“We wanted to make sure we allowed an opportunity for as many people as possible to come,� said Nick DeAngelis, one of the event’s coordinators. “Last year, many state troopers wanted to be there but were working extra duty, because it was the Sept. 11 anniversary.�

The 40-hour event will include numerous services, including Masses for law enforcement, military, fire and emergency medical personnel and civilian casualties, as well as veterans.

Sept. 11 events will include a real-time remembrance of the plane crashes and collapse of the World Trade Center towers. At the time of each incident, a cannon will be fired, the church bells will ring, bagpipes will play and prayers will be read.

All through the 40 hours, the names of the dead will be read continuously by volunteers that include a large number of young people.

Pieces of one of the Trade Center towers will be on display.

People of all faiths are invited to come and pray together.

“We just don’t want people to forget,� DeAngelis said. “Most 18-year-olds probably don’t have a clear memory of it. They know something happened, but they probably don’t recall the actual events or have a clear picture of how it changed us.

“We don’t want this to be like Memorial Day where you watch a parade for 15 minutes, and go off and eat hamburgers. The Knights of Columbus are putting up our entire treasury to do this with as much honor and respect as we can. A lot of people are helping with this. Everyone we have asked has said yes. It’s about all of us.�

A very dramatic segment is planned in which a “funeral� will be held under a tent on the church lawn. A flag-draped coffin will arrive. Mourners will be asked to write intentions and remembrances of lost loved ones.

To volunteer to help during the vigil, call DeAngelis at 860-671-1018.