What started as a response by FUSA to honor victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy has evolved into a collaborative effort that included Sacred Heart University and others in the Fairfield community.
Students from Fairfield University and Sacred Heart dedicated a permanent memorial last Thursday April 14, behind John J. Sullivan Independence Hall, in Fairfield. The memorial consists of two English Oaks, called “skyrockets,” a park bench and a plaque.
FUSA President Joe Piagentini, who was in attendance, said he hoped Fairfield students found the ceremony to be important and informative.
The memorial marked the seven-month anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, but first plans for the memorial began just two days after the tragedy.
The event included remarks from Sacred Heart President Dr. Anthony J. Cernera, Fairfield University’s Father Charles S. Allen, S.J., and Fairfield First Selectman Ken Flatto.
Thomas Pesce Jr., the student government president of Sacred Heart, was also in attendance along with town police and firemen. The Sacred Heart Band provided music with representatives from the Fairfield Glee Club, including Kim DiVincenzo ’02 who sung “The Star Spangled Banner.”
“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 they responded enthusiastically.
“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.
Pesce was also enthusiastic about the involvement of both universities and the community.
“It’s important to get together during such a tough time,” Pesce said. “We hope it is the beginning of a very big relationship with Fairfield over a long period of time. [The two trees] symbolize that both schools are pillars of the community.”
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 Flatto.
The bench and the plaque were not present at the ceremony, but will join the trees at the site in a few weeks.
Student body presidents of both universities ceremoniously shoveled dirt at the bottom of the trees. Allen then blessed the site to conclude the ceremony.
The memorial was originally planned to be dedicated 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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