Sept. 11 Anniversary Observance to Offer Thoughts, Prayers in Westwood

Westwood officials have solidified an overall agenda for a memorial service to be held this Sunday in honor of the 10th Anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

The service will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the front steps of , where the melodies of bagpipes will be heard as people arrive, and will end less than 30 minutes later. 

Westwood clergy will provide an invocation and benediction to start and end the service, which will also feature a moment of silence, a ringing of bells and appearances and a few words from Board of Selectmen Chair Pat Ahearn and Westwood Fire Chief William Scoble.

The service is expected to culminate shortly before 9 a.m.

The Westwood Board of Selectmen gave its support and approval for the ceremony . At the time, it was thought that the service would be held in the early afternoon at Veteran's Park, so as not to conflict with religious services being held on Sunday.

But the time of the event was shifted to the morning slot for a number of reasons, most notably to have it coordinate around the time of the first attack on Sept. 11, 2001, officials said.

"We just thought that it made more sense at around the time of the first attack (in 2001)," said Westwood Veteran's Agent Chris McKeown.

The 8:30 a.m. time also was more accommodating for the start of some fall sports programs, McKeown added, but he noted that the would be absent from an afternoon service, as fire officials will be present at another anniversary event in Boston.

"The fire department is mostly going to be down town at the time," McKeown said. "To do a 9/11 observance without our fire department would be strange, given the role of the department and the 9/11 events itself."

Ahearn added that having the service both brief and early allows for residents to honor the anniversary while still being able to accommodate their own personal commitments.

"Sunday can be a very busy time in a lot of people's houses," Ahearn said. "I think it allows people to come and if they want to go to services in their various congregations they can."