What started as a response by FUSA to honor victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy has evolved into a collaborative effort that includes Sacred Heart University and other members of the Fairfield community.
Students from Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University dedicated a permanent memorial behind John J. Sullivan Independence Hall in Fairfield. The memorial consists of two English Oaks, called “skyrockets,” a park bench, and a plaque.
“We really hope that students come out and participate,” said FUSA president Joe Piagentini, who will be in attendance.
The memorial marks the seven-month anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York.
The event will include remarks from Sacred Heart President, Dr. Anthony J. Cernera, Fairfield University’s Fr. Charles S. Allen, S.J., and Fairfield First Selectman, Ken Flatto.
Thomas Pesce Jr., Sacred Heart’s student government president, will also be in attendance along with town police and firemen. The Sacred Heart Band will provide music with representatives from the Fairfield Glee Club, which includes Kim DiVincenzo ’02 who will sing “The Star Spangled Banner”.
The first plans for the memorial began just two days after the tragedy.
“We knew immediately that we wanted to do something,” Piagentini said. “First we thought about planting one tree, but then we decided to purchase two trees to resemble the Twin Towers. Then we wanted to explore the possibility of planting the trees in the town of Fairfield to help improve our relationship with the townspeople.”
Piagentini then mentioned the idea to Sacred Heart’s student government, and he said that they were enthusiastic about the idea.
“This is the first year that we’ve attempted to communicate with the Sacred Heart student government, and they’ve been really helpful,” Piagentini said.
Fairfield and Sacred Heart have split the funding for the memorial equally.
“I am so pleased with the civic-minded spirit of the students from Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University who want to commemorate the loss of life during last year’s national tragedy,” said Fairfield’s First Selectman Ken Flatto.
The bench and the plaque are not going to be present at the ceremony, but should be at the site in a couple of weeks. But the trees are in place, according to Piagentini.
The student body presidents of both universities will ceremoniously shovel dirt at the bottom of the trees. Allen will then bless the site to conclude the ceremony, which is expected to last approximately 30 minutes.
The memorial was originally planned for dedication last month, for the six-month anniversary of the attacks, but there were concerns about how frozen the ground would be, and whether the trees would arrive on time, Piagentini said.
The inscription on the plaque is reported to read: “Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University students have united in reverence to honor those who lost their lives in the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. These two trees, towering toward the heavens, symbolize our growing strength as a community within this one nation. May God bless America. Dedicated on April 11, 2002.”
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