The Associated Press
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — More than 100 uniformed police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians gathered at St. Augustine Cathedral on Sunday to mark the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11.
Every year since the terrorist attacks, the Diocese of Bridgeport has held a blue Mass to thank and pray for emergency workers.
The attacks gave these courageous and generous individuals a “new and deserving high-profile in life,” said Monsignor William J. Scheyd, vicar general for the Bridgeport Diocese and pastor of St. Aloysius in New Canaan.
“Each of you are a blessing and a gift,” he told those who attended.
The crowd that gathered Sunday prayed for those who died on Sept. 11, but they also gave thanks and praise for first-responders who face danger every day.
“We don’t ask, we just respond,” Scheyd said.
Bridgeport Bishop William Lori celebrated the Mass.
“We honor and pray for first-responders and those who serve in such special and courageous ways,” he said.
During the Mass, Lori received a cross fashioned from a piece of steel found in the ruins of the World Trade Center, along with a police officer’s hat, a firefighter’s helmet and an emergency medical technician’s stethoscope.
Bridgeport Fire Lt. Frank Falanga, who went to New York to help in the aftermath of the attacks, said he remembers how New Yorkers pulled together and welcomed everyone who came to help.
Stamford firefighter Charles Cachowski also tried to respond Sept. 11, but was never able to get into the city. Still, five years later, he does not know the words to use when describing that day.
“First, you don’t believe it,” he said.
“It doesn’t seem like five years ago,” said Frank Lucherini of Stamford, whose son is a Trumbull firefighter. “I was on the ninth hole at Hubbard Heights golf course when I found out the first plane crashed. A few minutes later, I was on hole 12, when I found out the second crashed. That’s when we quit. We couldn’t play any more. I’ll never forget that.”
The blue Mass, co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, ended with those in attendance standing to face the church’s center aisle. The Bridgeport Honor Guard stood holding flags as the crowd sang the national anthem. Police officers and firefighters stood at attention and others placed hands over their hearts.
Michael Cabral, 7, of Newtown, the son of a Westport police officer, knew exactly how solemn the occasion was.
“We are here to commemorate Sept. 11 and to remember all the people that died,” he said.