WINDHAM CENTER, Conn. — On Thursday, September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 lives were lost in a coordinated series of terrorist attacks in the United States — including many first responders: firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and dispatchers who rushed into chaos with courage and resolve.

Twenty-four years later, on Thursday, September 11, 2025, Windham Center Fire Department led commemorative observances honoring those lives. In statements released today, department leaders reflected on the iconic image of the American flag being raised at Ground Zero — a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and sacrifice. Their message emphasized that the legacy of the day lives on in how communities serve one another, in steadfastness, selflessness, and readiness at every alarm. (Windham Center Fire Department)

Latest Update: This year, additional victims of the 9/11 attacks have been identified through advanced DNA testing. As of August 2025, three more individuals who died in the World Trade Center tragedy have been positively identified, bringing the total of identified remains to 1,653 out of the approximately 2,753 victims whose remains were recovered.

Communities across the country — including here in Windham Center — continue to hold memorials with moments of silence, bell tolls, and public readings of names. Their hope is that remembering remains more than tradition, and that every generation understands the cost of that day and the enduring duty to answer the call of service.