[MUSIC PLAYING]
Please stand for the presentation of the colors.
[GRAVEL BANGING]
Will the Sergeant-At-Arms please bring in the dignitaries.
Mr. Speaker, His Excellency, Charles Baker,
Governor of the Commonwealth, with Lauren Baker.
The Honorable Lieutenant Governor, Karyn Polito,
The Honorable Attorney General, Maura Healey,
The Honorable Martin Walsh, Mayor of the city of Boston,
The Honorable Daniel Bennett, Secretary of Public Safety
and Security, The Honorable William Evans,
Commissioner of the Police Department, Boston Police
Department, and the Honorable Superintendant-In-Chief,
William Gross.
I would like to welcome the dignitaries
and I would ask the Sergeant-At-Arms to bring them
into the chamber.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
The audience will remain standing
for the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United
States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands,
one Nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
The audience may be seated, please.
As Speaker, it is my role to welcome guests and dignitaries
to this historic chamber for ceremonial events
of many kinds.
Of all of those events, this is probably the most emotional.
It is now one of the rights of fall,
as the air begins to become crisp,
I begin to think about it.
Maybe it's better to say to feel it.
It's a sense of anticipation mixed with sadness in duty.
I am immensely humbled to welcome
each and every one of you to the House
for this solemn remembrance.
Let me first of all stop to recognize Governor and First
Lady Lauren Baker, Lieutenant Governor Polito, His Honorable
Mayor Walsh, Attorney General Healey, Superintendent Gross--
Superintendent-In-Chief Gross-- Secretary Bennett,
Undersecretary Queally, Commissioner Evans,
the diplomatic corps, and the Israeli Consul General,
Yehuda Yaakov, family members, and friends.
This is the ninth time you have convened here at the State
House since I've been Speaker.
In that time, the ceremony's character has changed.
Over time, more resilience has taken its place
aside tremendous grief.
Your resilience.
I see that quality reflected in the faces of men and women
who were young, some just toddlers,
when the attacks took place.
I see it reflected in the marathon bombing families, who
often come to this commemoration, who have formed
bonds with the 9/11 families.
Today is a day where we remember friends and loved ones,
together, to see their faces, and to continue to heal.
It's also a day to think about what we share as Americans.
Today calls to mind the enduring bond between each and every one
of us.
It's a spirit that brings us together on this day and one
we need to keep in mind throughout the year as well.
That spirit is bolstered by the memories of those
that we remember.
So today, we commemorate the courage of the firefighters,
the police, and first responders who rushed into dangers
as others were leaving.
We commemorate the unique bravery
of Madeline Amy Sweeney, who stood up for what she believed
in to save the lives of many.
They exemplified the best in us.
So today as we gather, let us reaffirm ourselves
to the ideals that Amy stood for.
Thank you.
Rabbi Elaine Zecher will now offer the invocation.
I invite you to rise.
Eternal presence of the universe,
how shall we count on this day.
We can never fathom a quantity of anguish.
There is no set amount to our mourning.
So how shall we count the lives and the love
that is so prevalent.
We count by one, as the poet has taught us.
One life, one life, one life, one life.
Because each time is the first time that life has been taken.
For these past 16 years, O God, we have been counting.
One, one, one.
Because of each person, each soul,
each individual separate and different, special and unique.
Every one of them whose lives were cut short.
And also, those members of their families left behind, also,
each one of them separate and different, special and unique.
So when you created the world, O God,
out of a vast emptiness of chaos and darkness,
and breathed life and light into the world and humanity,
your light entered everything.
A spark of you, a divine light, animated every soul.
And so we understand on this day that each person's light
continues to shine, to bring a spark of the divine
of your divinity into these dark places,
and the darkness that casts a shadow
on this day of remembrance.
O God, your light is embodied in righteousness, true truth,
integrity, justice, and grace in every person
they left behind to carry on with their legacy.
For all of us here and across the great nation,
we take your light as a source of strength and courage,
and we hearken to the words of your prophet Isaiah.
Arise, shine, for your light has dawned.
The presence of the eternal has shone upon you.
Behold, darkness shall cover the earth
and thick clouds the peoples, but upon you,
the divine will shine and the divine presence
be seen over you.
Nations shall walk by your light, rulers
by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about.
They have all gathered and come to you.
As you behold, you will glow, your heart
will beat and thrill, so says the eternal.
We are summoned on this day to carry that shining sacred light
to be a glowing force for good.
That light shines brightly, a radiance
of the divine never to be extinguished
and forever lighting the path toward tomorrow.
God bless us all and the light of each one we remember.
May it continue to shine on us and all the world
now and into eternity.
And let us say, Amen.
Please be seated.
[MUSIC - "ANGELS AMONG US"]
I was walking home from school on a cold winter day,
took a shortcut through the woods and I lost my way.
It was gettin' late, I was scared and I was alone.
But then a kind old man, he took my hand and led me home.
Momma couldn't see him, but he was standing there,
and I knew in my heart he was the answer to my prayer.
Oh, I believe there are angels among us, sent down
to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
to show us how to live and teach us
how to give, and guide us with a light of love.
When life held troubled times and had me down on my knees,
there's always been someone to come along and comfort me.
A kind word from a stranger to lend a helping hand, a phone
call from a friend just to say I understand.
But ain't it kind of funny at the dark end of the road
that someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope.
I believe there are angels among us, sent down
to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
to show us how to live and teach us
how to give, and guide us with a light of love.
They wear so many faces, show up in the strangest places
to grace us with their mercy in our time of need.
Oh, oooo, I believe there are angels among us,
sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
to teach us how to live and show us
how to give, and guide us with a light of love.
And guide us with a light of love.
[APPLAUSE]
On behalf of all the 9/11 families in Massachusetts,
I would like to thank Governor Charlie Baker and Mrs. Lauren
Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Attorney General Maura
Healey, Mayor Martin Walsh, Secretary Daniel Bennett,
Commissioner William Evans, Superintendent-In-Chief William
Gross, and all of you who have gathered here today
who have committed to holding this date sacred with us.
We first ask that you take a moment
to think of those that are dealing
with the effects of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma
and keep them in your thoughts and prayers
during this devastating and challenging time.
On the morning of September 11, 2001,
my husband, Kenneth Zelman, left our home in New Jersey
to go to work on the 99th floor of the North Tower
at the World Trade Center.
Our three-year-old daughter Olivia
was still sleeping while our 14-month-old son Ethan
had woken up unusually early.
As I was feeding Ethan breakfast,
he was blowing kisses to his daddy
as he walked out the door.
We said, I love you, and that was the last time
that we would see him.
Since that very sad and tragic day, most of us
have moved on from the intense grief
to finding peace and ways to refocus the energy in a more
positive way.
We have continued to love and, perhaps,
even learned to love again.
We share stories of our loved ones
to keep their spirit and legacy alive.
We have turned to service and education
as a way to make a difference in the lives of others
and honor those who we lost on that day.
We have given back individually by creating our own programs,
foundations, and scholarships.
Collectively, we have joined together
to participate in many local community projects.
We are now visiting high schools across Massachusetts
to educate teens about 9/11, most of whom were not yet born.
We are answering their questions and giving them
personal perspectives of what happened,
thus contributing to what is now a history lesson for them.
Most of us were strangers then, but are now connected
and are forever linked by this tragedy.
We have grown to become a family, the Mass 9/11 family.
We are strong, and we are resilient,
and we will continue to always remember and never forget.
I would like to take this opportunity
to introduce someone who has become a fast favorite
with our 9/11 families.
He has participated in our closing ceremony
at the 9/11 Memorial in the Boston Public
Garden for the past two years.
Long after the ceremony has ended,
he would still be talking with the family members at length,
taking the time to listen and get to know them.
He is warm, caring, and effervescent,
and has a smile that reaches deep within.
As a 34 year veteran with the Boston Police Department,
he has cultivated and maintained a strong connection
with the community.
He has received numerous awards for bravery, leadership,
and service, and is proudly the first African-American chief
in the history of the Boston Police Department.
It is my privilege and great honor
to welcome Superintendent-In-Chief
of the Boston Police Department, William Gross.
[APPLAUSE]
I thank my sister for that lovely introduction,
[LAUGHTER]
Helped bolster my confidence, now.
Good morning, everyone.
Good Morning.
It is an esteemed honor to be here today,
as we remember our loved ones.
It's an esteemed honor to be here today with the Governor
and the First Lady, the Lieutenant
Governor, our great Mayor, the Secretary, Undersecretary,
and, whose house is this?
Speaker of the House, and our great Attorney General.
One thing about the aforementioned, as well as
my brothers and sisters of the first responders,
we are very honored and proud to serve
our constituents and the best constituency
in this great nation.
And that is you, of the Commonwealth.
It's an honor to do so.
Again, the theme today is honor, care, respect, and love.
Our great families that have paid the ultimate sacrifice,
their loved ones that were victims of a cowardly attack.
Four coordinated attacks, September 11, 2001.
Our great nation isn't afraid to meet anybody,
anywhere, whether it be in the air, the sea, or the land.
But unfortunately, cowards don't work that way.
They won't meet us on the battlefield.
They commit cowardly acts that affect we,
the citizens of the United States,
as well as our loved ones.
Just a few moments ago, in the Speaker's chambers,
I had the distinct honor to speak with the Lieutenant
Governor and Attorney General.
And we were having a discussion about what
were you doing that day?
Where were you on September 11th in 2001?
I'm sure we each have separate memories that
are just etched in our being.
For me, I was a proud member of the Boston Police
Department, the first police department in the nation.
And I can tell you, I was angry that day.
That cowards would attack our great nation.
Again, as I alluded to earlier, we'll
meet you anytime and anywhere.
But they committed cowardly acts.
But here's one thing they probably couldn't fathom,
didn't factor in, probably didn't even think about,
is that you can never ever break our great nation.
You can't do it.
You never could.
We have been the first and greatest nation
in the world for a long time, for hundreds of years,
because this great nation includes everybody.
And I'm not trying to be political in my next statement.
No walls, no barriers, will ever keep our nation from growing.
It's an all-inclusive nation.
That's why we're here today.
Look around.
This reflects our great nation, and why we're here
today to pay respect and honor to the members
of our great nation that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Again, the terrorists, they didn't factor that in.
That you cannot break us.
Our great Rabbi and our Brethren of the clergy--
I'm not trying to take your job, but I'm
going to preach for a moment.
Folks, we all know through our religious teachings
that the body may go away, but you can never break the spirit.
The body may go away, but the spirit remains.
That's why we say the spirit of Massachusetts,
where everything began.
Here.
That spirit is what makes our nation.
Not the weapons, not the politics, not the haters,
terrorists.
We make this nation.
It's our spirit and our resolve in how we represent our house.
They didn't factor that in because they can't.
They are not of the same ilk as us,
and especially not of the same ilk of our loved ones
who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
We have a duty as well.
We have a duty and an obligation as the citizens
of the Commonwealth, as members of this great nation.
We have the duty and obligation to preserve that spirit.
We have the duty and obligation to pass that on and pass it
forward to our future, some of whom are in this room.
Our youngsters, our children, our nieces, our nephews,
our grandchildren.
To young leaders of today.
This is our job to pass that forward.
This is why I'm so proud of everyone that's
here today, everyone that's across our great nation today,
celebrating a day of remembrance because we're
showing people something.
We're showing people that America can not be defeated.
And we're showing people that we are
sending that in the minds of our future leaders as well.
Never be defeated, never give up, and we never surrender.
Again, I am so proud to be here in this House
to say words to these families.
And I know my great leaders behind me have our backs,
and they have your backs.
As we send the message to the world today--
yes, the world-- that we, as a country, will never forget our
loved ones.
We never forget whose paid the ultimate sacrifice again,
and we together will continue to do that every year.
Every anniversary of 9/11, we will be here.
The spirit is great.
We were attacked at the Boston Marathon in 2013.
Again, when will they learn?
You can't break us.
We continue to be attacked around this great country
and in the world.
When will they learn?
You can't break us.
Every year, through the spirit of all
whom have paid the ultimate sacrifices, we will be here.
That's why, again, it is an honor today
to interact with you all.
As you interact with each other today, just
remember, each smile, each hug, that's your family members
right there.
Those are your family members causing us to smile.
Those are your family members that
are causing us to take extra moments,
to take time to speak and get to know each other,
to bring us closer together, to strengthen our spirits.
Because we have a mission--
back to the clergy again--
there is, folks, a war between good and evil.
There is.
But what are we going to do about it?
We don't run and hide as a nation.
We don't commit cowardly acts.
We'll face it head on, and we'll do it together,
from wherever we hail, whomever we represent.
But we all represent this great United States.
And in this war of good and evil,
we will win, because again, you can't break us.
I know you can feel it.
Each and every one of you.
It's just surging through us at this moment.
With each beat of our heart is our strength and our resolve.
Everyone knows I'm a student of history.
I can just say, each time we step up,
each time we remember our loved ones from 9/11,
we're making history.
We're showing folks that this is the best nation in the world
and we always will be.
And we will continue to be that in the future.
We will continue to lead.
People will learn from our example.
People will teach from our example.
And that example is that we as a nation are the best.
Love, empathy, care, and respect.
That's what guides us, especially on this great day.
Again, it's an honor to be here with you all.
And I look forward to meeting or revisiting each and every one
of you so we can share thoughts on a personal level,
so we can greet, so we can pass that message on,
that this is a house that can't be broken.
God bless our great citizens of the Commonwealth and God
bless the citizens of the United States.
God bless America, and God bless you all.
God is living with each and every one of us.
And I'm sure with your loved ones,
they're basking in his countenance,
that they're proud that you're here today
and that we are here in this day of remembrance.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
[MUSIC - "FIRE AND RAIN"]
Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone.
Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you.
Woke up this morning and I wrote down this song,
I just can't remember who to send it to.
I've seen fire and I've seen rain.
I've seen sunny days I thought would never end.
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend,
but I always thought that I'd see you again.
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus,
You've got to help me make a stand.
You've just got to see me through another day.
My body's aching, my time is at hand.
I won't make it any other way.
I've seen fire and I've seen rain.
I've seen sunny days I thought would never end.
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend,
but I always thought that I'd see you again.
I've been walking my mind to an easy time,
my back turned towards the sun.
Lord knows when a cold wind blows
it'll turn your head around.
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line
to talk about things to come.
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground.
I've seen fire and I've seen rain.
I've seen sunny days I thought would never end.
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend,
but I always thought that I'd see you, baby,
one more time again.
Thought I'd see you one more time again.
Thought I'd see you, fire and rain, now.
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you, fire and rain, now.
[APPLAUSE]
We now ask that you please turn your attention
to the screens for the photo montage of our loved ones.
[MUSIC - "OVER THE RAINBOW"]
One of my favorite memories of Anna
comes from a time just before September 11,
when we were vacationing together
on an island in Penobscot Bay off the coast of Maine.
I have a picture from that time that I look at and can never
help but feel better.
Her joy is infectious, and I give thanks for that time
we spent together.
I can really say that she was my best friend, particularly
as we were older.
And because she'd known me for so long,
she really was my touchstone.
I think that's the thing I miss the most.
On a Saturday morning, he would get up
and he would ask the kids, just give me time to have my coffee
and read The Globe, and then I'm all yours.
And they'd play a game called push daddy off the couch.
And he'd be laying on the couch and all three of them
would pile on him and see what they could do about getting him
off the couch.
And it became a game that they played on a regular basis,
and the laughter in the house would just be unbelievable.
And that's one thing I noticed after Jeff
died that I miss the most was the laughter that he caused.
He always liked to be in the yard, cutting the grass.
Good old Italian.
He loved to cut the grass, take care of the garden,
and have vegetables.
Not me.
That was his job.
My brother was such a wonderful, glowing person
and a very caring, compassionate man.
He was volunteering with organizations
like the Corporate Angel Network that
flew cancer patients to treatment
for free on corporate jets.
The one thing that has stuck with me these past 15 years
is my grandma's last words to me and my brother.
She said, promise me when I'm gone,
you two won't grow up one bit.
[MUSIC - JOSH GROBAN, "YOU RAISE ME UP"]
Three months before she died, I had
given birth to my daughter and everyone
thought she was going to be a boy.
So when I had a girl, people were ecstatic.
And my mom was just super, super excited because she finally
got to shop for a little girl, that I
was very adamant that I didn't want Amelia to wear pink.
My dad and I finally got the courage
to open the back of her car.
We found about, I would say, 10 to 12 bags from
Filene's and Macy's.
In each bag were different types of blue dresses for Amelia
because my mom had been stockpiling them.
My husband Joseph was very engaging and charismatic.
He had the gift of gab.
All these years later, I see him in his kids,
who were his pride and his joy.
His daughter is kind and caring like he was,
while his son can charm a boar with his extemporaneous
and humorous speeches.
We will never forget him, his disarming smile,
and his booming laugh.
Our family and friends used to joke and ask
if our father was a pilot dressed up
as a farmer or a farmer dressed up as a pilot.
He had his two loves, farming and flying.
Above all else, he loved his girls--
our mother and my two sisters, Laura and Caroline.
We think about him all the time.
We talk about him and share his stories
and keep his photographs around our homes
so that he's always with us.
He was taken from us, but the memory and legacy he left
is stronger than ever.
He is never far from our hearts.
[MUSIC - MARIAH CAREY, "HERO"]
My brother was the person whose advice
I listened to most, because he had gone through it all
and I trusted him.
He was the person who, after a long night of doubt and fear,
helped me see a beautiful sunrise and a glimpse
into heaven to let me know that all was well
with him and his god.
He traded in his snowboard for Bruno Magli shoes
and his Jerry Garcia shirt for a Brooks Brothers suit.
Matthew's smile was electric, and it
was the first thing everyone noticed when they met him.
I think one of the last things that Heather and I
did prior to 9/11, we had a project that we were working on
together and it was refurbishing a dollhouse that I
had built for her about 20 years beforehand when
she was a little kid.
It was just a beautiful, I guess you could call it New England
house, when it was all done.
And it was one of the great satisfactions
and one of the best feelings that I think I ever had,
doing it together, working on a house together.
And I think that life just really
doesn't get much better than experiencing times like that.
The summer after 9/11, we noticed
that my aunt was sending butterflies
and we were able to notice this because our backyard was
filled with hundreds of them.
Only black and yellow butterflies.
I graduated a couple weeks ago.
And out of nowhere, there was nothing anywhere
in the sky except, right about as they began calling names,
a yellow and black butterfly.
And then, my mom told me that it came to her
after it went by me.
Whenever we see the black and yellow butterflies,
we know that they're from her.
Every year, we come together to honor and present
the Madeline Amy Sweeney Civilian Bravery
Award to a local hero.
At this time, it is my pleasure to welcome
Jacqui Sweeney, Amy's sister-in-law,
to the rostrum to share a special poem.
Good morning.
My brother Michael would also like
to acknowledge the heroism and bravery of Amy's fellow crew
members on Flight 11.
Captain John Ogonowski, First Officer Thomas McGuinness,
flight attendants Bobbi Arestegui, Jeffrey Collman,
Sara Low, Karen Martin, Kathleen Nicosia, Betty Ong, Jean Roger,
and Dianne Snyder.
The crew acted as a team, looking after each other
and caring for their passengers.
The following is a Native American prayer.
"I give you this one thought to keep.
I am with you still, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow, I
am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am a gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds
in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone, I am with you still
in each new dawn."
(WHISPERING) Thank you, Jacqui.
Thank you very much, Jacqui.
I would now like to welcome Lieutenant Governor Karyn
Polito.
Thank you, Jacqui, beautiful words
and to recognize the flight attendants on that morning.
And I speak on behalf of Governor Baker, First Lady
Lauren Baker, our Speaker DeLeo, Mayor Walsh, Attorney General
Maura Healy, Secretary Bennett and state
how grateful we are to the committee,
to the families for holding this tradition every year
to bring us together to this State House.
From the steps where the family gathers to speak
the name of your loved one.
And when we hear you do that, it's
evident that the pain is still very real in your hearts
and in your lives.
And to coming into this room, this House Chamber,
and to see the pictures of your sisters, your brothers,
your mothers, your fathers, your aunts,
your uncles brings you back to that very moment
that that day began 16 years ago.
And when we come to this room with you,
we come to honor them.
And we are so inspired by the work
that you've been able to do over these years by remembering
them, honoring them, bringing their stories to classrooms,
setting up foundations, raising dollars
to continue to strengthen the communities
across this Commonwealth.
But what I see in those pictures is just utter joy.
People among us that were just living life the way we do.
Getting up, going to work, loving their jobs,
thinking about their kids all day
long, because that's what we do.
And just giving and living what the American way of life
is all about.
But on that very day, all the joy in your life
was sucked out of you.
And as much as Superintendent-In-Chief Gross
said, we cannot take them back to us.
But what we can do is honor who they
are by living our lives the way they would expect us to do.
I want to state clearly that it's been such an honor
to get to know the Sweeney family.
Jack and Anna, there's no doubt in my mind
that your mother would be very proud of you.
I want to thank the Superintendent for his words
today.
He is just one walking hug, and a hug that we certainly
enjoy having around us today.
And as he wears the uniform so proudly,
he represents the men and the women who wear the uniform
and get up and go to their jobs to protect and serve us
in this Commonwealth.
And he reminds us of the men and women on 9/11,
who responded in the way that they
do to try to save lives and bring order to the world that
was so upside down on that day and continues
to be so in many ways.
And as we gather now, 16 years later, we remember.
And as the poems read today, we will always remember.
And we will continue to remember what individuals
did on that day to try to take something so chaotic and so
terrible and to make it right.
And that's why we are honored to be
able to celebrate one of those individuals, Madeline Amy
Sweeney, as you refer to her as Amy,
and the character and bravery that her actions embodied.
Amy, as you know, was an American Airlines Flight
attendant-- a job of 14 years that she loved--
from Acton Massachusetts.
And she was working on that Flight 11 on that fateful day
when the first plane was hijacked and flown
into the World Trade Center Towers.
And today, as we say those words,
it's still shocking to all of us that that even happened
in the history of our country.
And prior to that moment though, Amy
conveyed critical information about the five hijackers
to the ground crew, including physical descriptions, seating
assignments, and their actions aboard as the plane
approached New York.
That took an extraordinary, calm, level-headed,
well-reasoned thinking person to do that.
And the information was invaluable in the aftermath
to follow and investigations of the tragic events
that took place that took almost 3,000 lives.
And it is for Amy's selfless, heroic actions,
and the memory of all those lost on September 11, 2001,
that a special award was established
by our Massachusetts State Legislature.
There's a law on our books that is directing all of us
to honor Amy and all of those on 9/11.
And they created this in 2002, in her name,
for civilian bravery, to be presented always on this day.
And there are certain things that the committee needs
to think of when choosing who to award this special honor to,
and these are the things that they take into consideration.
Extraordinary courage, bravery, and heroism.
And a key phrase, without regard for their own safety.
Without regard for their own safety,
and in an effort to save others.
The Sweeney Award Committee members, Alyse Mazzerole,
Middleton Police Chief James Digianvittorio,
Rick Delorie, Wellesley's Fire Chief,
Senator Michael Moore, Richard Ross,
Representative David Muradian, who
is here today, Representative Jose Tosada, Carlos Arrendondo,
and Paul Antonio, the 2012 award winner,
reviewed a number of nominations.
I want to thank Representative Paul Tucker for your nomination
and for being here today, because it
is a special individual who we honor today for what he did.
And it is with my honor, on behalf of the committee
and on behalf of the Sweeney family,
to announce that this individual, his name
is Jaydon Dancy.
Jaydon Dancy, on August 19, 2016,
was 10 years old, of Salem.
He was playing on the waterfront area
of Palmer Cove on a playground when
he saw a kayaker in the distance, in the water,
about 30 feet offshore.
And the kayaker was in distress, he was laying over his kayak.
And Jaydon was with another woman, a little older.
And they both went into the water, the woman
at knee height, but Jaydon continued
to go further into the water.
He went so far out, it was obviously above his head.
And he was able to grab hold of the man
and together, was able to pull him into the shoreline
where the woman was able to assist him at that point.
Police, fire, and EMS arrived shortly thereafter
and despite life saving medical intervention,
the man succumbed to the medical episode
which had caused his accident.
But Jaydon responded without regard to himself,
to aid this man in an instant, without thinking,
second-guessing, without calling for the older woman
to come with him.
He went, and he tried his very best
to take a larger, older man into a place of safety.
He was honored in front of his entire school, the Carlton
Innovation School, in October for his heroic actions
by the Salem Police and the Salem
Fire Departments, along with local and state leaders,
including Representative Tucker.
He was also honored by the American Red
Cross this past March in the category of Selfless
Acts by Youth Heroes.
And throughout this time, Jaydon was so humble
about his bravery, and his family and his community
were incredibly proud of him.
And in a conversation that I recently had with his mom,
that's one thing that she kept saying about Jaydon
How calm and humble and quiet he was about his work that day.
Tragically, Jaydon died in an accident
on June 9th of this year when he crossed an active commuter rail
line to retrieve his bicycle.
The city of Salem and all who knew him and strangers
alike mourned his loss.
But we are comforted in some small measure
by remembering his selfless and heroic act at Palmer
Cove on that August day.
And while he has passed on from this life,
Jaydon continues to serve as the role
model he was in life to his fellow classmates
and to all of us in this great Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
It is an honor, on behalf of the Committee,
on behalf of all of us and the Sweeney family
to recognize Michelle Dancy, his mother, who
I'd like to have come forward to accept the award on behalf
of her son.
And you should also know that Michelle is a public servant
in her own right.
Over 30 years, case manager, at our Department
of Mental Health.
Please come forward, Michelle, and receive this award
on behalf of your beautiful, heroic, and courageous son.
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you, everybody.
Thank you so much.
I can't express how honored I am to accept the Madeline Amy
Sweeney award on behalf of my beloved son, Jaydon.
I know that Jaydon is with all of us today in spirit.
He is proud to be recognized for his bravery in such
a special way.
When Jaydon instinctively jumped into the water that day,
he never expected to be awarded for simply doing
what he felt he had to do.
He was very modest about his courageous act.
Jaydon was a compassionate, peace-loving boy.
His friends described him as a hero and a gift
from heaven, who accepted everyone for who they are.
It is so touching that such a young person
was selected to receive this distinctive award.
My hope is to find a way to help more young people
in our community to be recognized
for everyday acts of kindness.
Thank you so much.
[APPLAUSE]
[SIDE CONVERSATION]
Please remain standing as we pray.
God of all peoples and of all nations,
we humbly call out to you on this most sacred of days.
As we commemorate those who are now eternally in your care,
and as we hold dear in our hearts,
their families and friends who continue
to mourn the loss of loved ones who perished because hate,
terror, and evil took innocent lives
and imparted sorrow upon grieving souls.
Our nation pauses this day with bended knees
and bowed heads to offer our prayers to you for those
who have gone before us so unjustly
and to beg your consolation, comfort, and strength
for those who remain vigilant in keeping alive their memories.
Especially by reassuring them that your love and mercy
swiftly brought the fallen to lasting peace.
And to this prayer we add Jaydon, his mother, his family,
and his friends.
As well, we who seek to honor the last distressing
breaths and cries for help of those who died
and of those who weep because of the events of September 11,
2001.
Breaths and cries which have been permanently
imprinted upon the soul of our nation.
Breaths and cries which compelled
the courageous to run swiftly to their aid.
We do so by humbly begging your grace
to empower the final breaths and cries of our sisters
and brothers, to speak to us today,
and to strengthen our undying commitment
to defend the freedom, liberty, and rights that you, Almighty
God, have breathed into the human person
from the dawn of creation.
And to clearly speak with one voice, our firm resolve
to establish in our global community
the lasting peace, justice, and equality you have always
intended for us and to encourage every people of every nation
to do the same.
In the spirit, gracious God, we pray
that our nation will be a glorious shining
light of equality, acceptance, welcome, understanding, love,
mercy, hope, promise, and compassion for all
who are blessed to call our nation home.
And for all who seek to unite with the bond of one
people formed from the ancestries of many
by first establishing in our midst,
from sea to shining sea, what we seek
for all the world's nations.
Particularly, by profoundly rejecting
the temptation of prejudice, bigotry, and fear which
too often condemn others unfairly and contribute
to divisions among the varied religions, cultures, language,
and ways of life of your people.
And for those of any land who live
under the injustices of a tyranny,
the gripping clause of persecution,
the lack of religious freedom, the dehumanizing realities
of poverty, hunger, lacking basic necessities of life,
the uncaring indifference that can be in our world.
Anyone who knows any affront to the dignity
of the human person, we ask that you reassure them
of your providential care and our promise
to never cease caring for them with the same love and devotion
we have for those who have died so
tragically because of the attack this day shall never forget.
Finally, the Lord of all, keep safe and protect from harm
those who valiantly defend our freedoms, protect our lands,
and serve the people of our country every day
in cities and towns throughout our nation.
Compel our national and local leaders
to strive unselfishly for the welfare and common good
of every person who lives under the banner of our freedom.
And we pray particularly, and especially today,
for those most in need, and we call out you
on behalf of our brothers and sisters
who have known devastation from the hurricanes
and all natural disasters.
Help us to give them a share of the blessing,
the generous portion of your aid and comfort
you bestow upon us every day.
For all these prayers and intentions
we call out through your holy name, Lord, forever and ever.
Amen.
[MUSIC - "RISE UP"]
You're broken down and tired of living life
on a merry-go-round.
And you can't find a fighter, but I see it in you
so we gonna walk it out and move mountains.
We gonna walk it out and move mountains.
And I'll rise up, I'll rise like the day.
I'll rise up, rise unafraid.
I'll rise up, and I'll do it a thousand times again.
And I'll rise up, high like the waves,
I'll rise up, in spite of the ache.
I'll rise up, and I'll do it a thousand times again for you,
you, you, for you.
And the silence isn't quiet and it
feels like it's getting harder to breathe.
And I know you feel like dying, but I promise you,
we'll take the world to its feet.
Move mountains, we gonna walk it out and move mountains.
And we'll rise up, rise like the day.
We'll rise up, rise unafraid.
We'll rise up, and we'll do it a thousand times again.
We'll rise up, high like the waves.
We'll rise up, instead of the ache.
We'll rise up, and we'll do it a thousand times again for you,
for you, you, for you.
All we need, all we need is hope.
And for that we have each other, and for that we
have each other, yeah.
We will rise, we will rise, and we will rise up, oh.
We'll rise.
I'll rise up, rise like the day.
I'll rise up, instead of the ache.
I will rise a thousand times again.
And we'll rise up, high like the waves.
We'll rise up, instead of the ache.
We'll rise up, and we'll do it a thousand times again for you,
you, you, for you.
We'll rise, we'll rise, we'll rise for you, for you.
[APPLAUSE]
Before we conclude today's program,
I also would like to recognize some folks who
I should have recognized a little bit earlier.
We have our Boston Fire Commissioner Joe
Finn, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Urena,
we have the Veterans Commissioner
from the city of Boston Sterling.
We also have with us representatives Tucker, Wong,
Muradian, Tom Walsh, David Nangle, Senator Ross,
and representative Donato here as well.
This concludes our program.
On behalf of the Massachusetts 9/11 families,
we thank you for coming.
As I stand at this rostrum and as I stand here
each and every year and I look out
and I can see some of the grief and the tears,
I wish I could say something or do something
that could ease that pain.
But in any case, I hope each of you
will find some solace, comfort, and a renewed sense of spirit
in each other's companies here today.
And today may we ask God to bless all those that we
honor and remember here today.
May we ask God to bless the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and the United States of America.
Thank you very much.
[APPLAUSE]
I would now ask the Sergeant-At-Arms
to please escort the dignitaries out of the chamber.
[SIDE CONVERSATION]
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you all, very much.
[MUSIC PLAYING]