posted on 9/13/2024
In a tribute to the victims and heroes of Sept. 11, 2001, the Dover City Council held a remembrance ceremony during its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. The event, marking the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks, brought together city officials and first responders to reflect on the tragic day.
Dover Mayor Robert Carrier opened the ceremony by inviting members of Dover Fire and Rescue and the Dover Police Department to the podium. The solemn occasion served as a reminder of the sacrifices made by first responders and the enduring impact of 9/11 on the community.
Interim Fire Chief Perry Plummer, who spent 24 years with the department and previously served as the state's director of Homeland Security, recalled the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
"It's been 23 long years since America's darkest day," Plummer said. "I remember it like it was yesterday."
Plummer emphasized the importance of remembering not only the lives lost but also the heroic actions of first responders.
"Let's remember that firefighters and police officers saved over 20,000 people before giving their own lives," he said.
Police Chief William Breault read the names of the Dover residents who perished in the attacks: Kathleen Shearer, Michael Shearer, Douglas Stone, and David Scott Suarez.
Deputy Fire Chief Craig Chabot explained the significance of the bell-ringing tradition in firefighting history.
"The signal was a sign of honor and respect for all firefighters who had made the ultimate sacrifice, and it's become a time-honored tradition," Chabot said.
Following Chabot's explanation of the tradition, Dover Fire and Rescue Division Chief Keith Irwin and Dover Police Capt. David Terlemezian performed the ceremonial tolling of the bell. The five measured dashes, repeated three times, echoed through Council Chambers, honoring not only the fallen first responders of 9/11 but also military members who have lost their lives in the subsequent War on Terror.
The ceremony concluded with Chief Plummer expressing gratitude to the Dover police officers and firefighters for their ongoing service to the community.
"The acts of selflessness will be building blocks for a better community and a better world," he said.
Mayor Carrier closed the remembrance by thanking all attendees for their participation and for keeping the events of 23 years ago in their hearts.
The ceremony can be viewed online here: https://dovernh.viebit.com/player.php?hash=HuR5weTZXZcpC3Kw.
