Westford, Massachusetts 9/11 Memorial

In February, I received the following message: "I wanted to let you know there is a new 9-11 monument in Westford you should see if you ever swing through the town. It is located in the area in between the Town Hall and the Fire Station in the Common area of town. I was able to go and see it dedicated and it is beautiful.  It has green sea glass that glows from underneath at night too. Check out the facebook page and pictures on it."  Naturally, I had to go and see it. My first visit was on April 19th, but I realized it should be seen at night, as you will see below. This is indeed a treasure of a Monument, and as many times I look at these photos, I get quite emotional. I believe you will too.

I went just before dark recently, and had the pleasure of chatting with a fireman who knew a lot about this memorial. He shared a few things with me, first telling me that Westford firefighter David Christiana, a sculptor, created the 9-11 memorial. The granite and green glass came from Pennsylvania and represents the field where Flight 93 crashed on the field, the middle base is in the shape of the octagon represents the Pentagon and the bronze work is beautifully engraved with an image of the Twin Towers and names of all 92 Massachusetts heroes who died that day. The caldron holds some metal from one of the collapsed Twin Towers.

92 names engraved on the ribbon, surrounding the Towers.

Town of Westford, Massachusetts

Westford Remembers 9-11 Monument

Dedicated on September 11, 2013, this monument is a permanent Memorial to all 92 Massachusetts heroes, including two of our own, taken from us in the terrorist attacks on our nation that fateful day. May it serve as a symbol of Hope, Freedom and Liberty.

Photo taken in the middle of the day, in early spring.

Westford Remembers 9 11 

Susan A. MacKay 

James F. Hayden

Donated by the Residents of Westford  Sept. 11, 2011

Brian K. Kinney Memorial, Lowell, MA Resident, is Remembered on 9-11-14

KINNEY SQUARE

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

OUR BELOVED SON, HUSBAND AND BROTHER

BRIAN K. KINNEY

VICTIM ON HIJACKED UNITED FLIGHT #175

DEDICATED NOVEMBER 4, 2001

This memorial was inaccessible for quite a few years, while construction for new additions to the University of Massachusetts Lowell occurred. Behind the memorial used to be a gas station, but is now a parking lot for college buses. It is my understanding that Brian worked part-time at the gas station. He lived a block away from me, but I didn't know it until after 9-11. A memorial flowering tree was planted in the front yard, and there is a small marker there.

As a genealogist, I just got a little too curious, and googled his name. Found the following information, there are two write-ups about this remarkable person:

BRIAN KINNEY
Brian Kinney
United Flight 175 

ENGAGING AND INDUSTRIOUS

As a kid, Brian Kinney pumped gas at his family's Texaco station in Lowell, Mass., but even after college, when he put on a suit and started to work at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston, he spent Saturdays in his greasy old clothes, working alongside his dad. Mr. Kinney was grateful to his father for putting him through school, and he also loved catching up with customers' news. That was Mr. Kinney: equally comfortable in a white collar or blue one; tireless in his capacity for work; a friendly, enthusiastic fellow who asked "How are you?" before "Fill it up?" because he really wanted to know.

Decades earlier, Alison Hardy's father had worked at Kinney's. When she was 14, her father said she could cash her paychecks there. Brian wasn't yet allowed to handle money, but his father made an exception for Alison, so Brian had an excuse to talk with her when she came by. They married in 1998, settled in Lowell, visited their families weekly, planned to start their own.

At 28, the engaging, industrious Mr. Kinney had risen from intern to manager at Pricewaterhouse. He could have taken care of that California client by phone. But on Sept. 11, Mr. Kinney boarded United Airlines Flight 175 because he wanted to shake the client's hand and see how he really was doing. 
Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on April 28, 2002.

In New York City, September 11, 2001, Brian K. Kinney, 28, of Lowell. Manager of Global Risk Management Solutions at PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, Boston. Beloved husband of Alison M. (Hardy) Kinney of Lowell. Beloved son of Norman P. and Darlene T. (Cormier) Kinney of Dracut. Brother of Timothy Kinney of Lowell. Grandson of Anna T. (Thibeault) Kinney of Chelmsford, Theresa and Rudy Paquett of Lowell and Robert P. Dalton of Lowell. Son-in-law of Paul A. and Susan (Mulligan) Hardy, Sr. of Lowell. Brother-in-law of Ann E. Draper, Paul A. Hardy, Jr., Jessica D. Hardy, Neil R. Hardy, Philip J. Hardy, Timothy Sousa and Tiffany L. Sousa. Friends will be received at Ste. Jeanne d'Arc Church, White St., Lowell on Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. A Memorial Mass celebrating Brian's life will be said Sunday evening at 7:00. Those wishing kindly make memorial contributions to the American Cancer Societty, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 101 First Ave., Suite 6, Waltham, MA 02154. Arrangements by the O'Donnell Funeral Home, LOWELL.
Paid Notice published in THE BOSTON GLOBE on 9/13/2001.

I have never heard of the National September 11 Memorial Find-A-Grave site. 
Brian is buried there.

There Is A Lot to Like About Lowell -- Memorials around the City Hall

"There is A Lot to Like About Lowell" is the city slogan.

(See tab on right side called "Lowell Series" for many more articles about Lowell.)

Memorials around the City Hall

City Hall to the right. See below for inscription.

CITY OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS

NORTHERN CANAL RENEWAL AREA

ARCAND DRIVE

Dedicated on November 11 to the Memory of

PFC. Donald Leonard Arcand

Born in Lowell, February 13, 1946

Killed in Action, Vietnam, September 1, 1965

City Manager  Charles A. Callagher

Mayer  Robert C. Maquire

Commissioner of Public Works  George P. Legrand, JR.

Councillors:

John E. Cox

Thomas L. Crowley

Edward J. Early

Raymond J. Gilbridge

Richard P. Howe

Armand W. Lemay

Samuel S. Pollard

Ellen A. Sampson

Dedicated to the Early

Greek Immigrants by Their

Grateful Progeny

1983

AI_NIA   AYT_N   H  MNHMH
(Memory Eternal)

DEDICATED

IN HONOR OF

THE POLISH

AMERICANS OF

LOWELL

MAY 3, 1977

CZESC POLONII

DEDICATED TO THE

IRISH-AMERICANS

OF LOWELL

1822  --  1977

IN MEMORY OF

1915  --  1923

THE VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

A MOTHER'S HANDS

Knot by knot, her hands weave the history of her people.

The delicacy of the crochet integrated into this cross stone

is symbolic of the beauty and strength of the Armenian heritage.

This ancient culture lives forever, just as the imprint of

the first genocide of the 20th century

lives in the collective memory of the Armenians.

The blooming cross stone is the permanent reminder that

the massacre of more than 1.5 million Armenians

within the Ottoman Empire will never be forgotten

that in spite of the pain and horror of the genocide,

knot by knot, the Armenian People everywhere

weave their hopes and dreams, as they bloom and prosper.

IN HONOR OF THE

HERITAGE AND

CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE

PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY TO

THE CITY OF LOWELL

JUNE 10, 2009

IN HONOR OF THE FRANCO - AMERICANS

OF LOWELL, MASS

JUNE 24, 1974

IN HONOR OF THE FRANCO - AMERICANS

OF LOWELL, MASS

JUNE 24, 1974

I am so proud that Lowell recognizes the various ethnic groups in this city. The ones represented above came to the city many years ago, but there are others who have come more recently, came for a better life. They left war and poverty of their home land, and are very peaceful.

A quick look at the Wikipedia report on Lowell, provided the following statistics about the nationalities of the citizens here. "According to the 2010 Census, there were 106,519 people residing in the city. The population density was 7,842.1 people per square mile (2,948.8/km²). There were 41,431 housing units at an average density of 2,865.5 per square mile (1,106.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.3% White, 20.2% Asian American (12.5% Cambodian, 2.0% Indian, 1.7% Vietnamese, 1.4% Laotian, 0.6% Chinese, 0.2% Filipino, 0.1% Korean, 0.1% Thai, 0.1% Burmese), 6.8%African American, 0.3% Native American, 8.8% from other races, 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.3% of the population (11.3% of the population is Puerto Rican, 1.9% Dominican, 1.5% Colombian, 0.5% Mexican, 0.2% Salvadoran, 0.2% Guatemalan). Non-Hispanic Whiteswere 52.8% of the population in 2010, compared to 92.5% in 1980.^[29]

In 2010, Lowell had the highest proportion of residents of Cambodian origin of any place in the United States, at 12.5% of the population. Estimates of the total number of Cambodians living in the city of Lowell range from 11,000 to 25,000-35,000. The Government of Cambodia had opened up its third U.S.Consular Office in Lowell, on April 27, 2009, with Sovann Ou as current advisor to the Cambodian Embassy. The other two are in Long Beach and Seattle,Washington, which also have a large community."

This is a city of many restaurants, each nationality seems to have several. Just today, we ate at a Greek restaurant, established 63 years ago, and it was packed. Olympia, a good solid Greek name.

Do we get along, I think so, do we all understand each other, I doubt it. My hairdresser of 10 years came from Vietnam 20 years ago, not speaking a word of English. We have some funny conversations, but I wouldn't change her for the world.

Massachusetts Remembers 9/ll With Memorial and Names

When I came across the Massachusetts memorial to the 206 Massachusetts victims of September 11, 2001, in the Boston Public Gardens, I knew I had to share my photos. And, more importantly, the names of all those from Massachusetts who died on that horrible day. We will never forget.

This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2012.

The list of names came from 9/11 Victims With Massachusetts Ties (CBS Boston, September 11, 2011). Click on names to read their profiles.  The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund (see below) has a few activities for tomorrow, September 11, 2014. 

THIRTEENTH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION – SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

The Board of Directors and the Family Advisory Committee of the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund invite you to participate, as noted below, in our Twelfth Anniversary Commemoration activities.

7:30 am – Wreath Laying Ceremony

                      Boston Public Garden, 9/11 Contemplative Garden

8:30 am – Flag Lowering, Moment of Silence, and Reading of Names

                      Massachusetts State House Lawn

9:30 am – Commemoration Observation & Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery Presentation

                      House Chambers, Massachusetts State House

11:00 am – Family Reception (by private invitation only)

                      The Taj Hotel, Boston Common

Eunice Wilder of Lancaster, MA -- How Many Angles to Get a Good Photo? -- Tombstone Tuesday

HERE LIES BURIED

Y^e BODY OF MR^s

EUNICE WILDER

Y^e WIFE OF M^r

DAVID WILDER

WHO DEC^d

FEBR^y Y^e 17^th

A D 1750¹

IN Y^e 30^th YEAR

OF HER AGE.

Eunice Jennison / Jenison Wilder was my 6th great-grandmother

Why so many photos of this cemetery stone? Blame it on the sun. We walked by the stone several times and couldn't read it until we looked at it sideways and upside down! The only way to take a picture was for my husband and I to stand side-by-side and cast a shadow. And, that is how I got my half-decent photo!

Old Common Cemetery

Lancaster, Massachusetts

There Is A Lot to Like About Lowell -- The Old Meets the New

"There is A Lot to Like About Lowell" is the city slogan.

(See tab on right side called "Lowell Series" for many more articles about Lowell.)

The Old Meets the New

Taken May 2014

The above three photos were taken across the road from the last photo, that of a renovated mill now used for housing.

Pool or Poole, One of the Hardest Tombstone Tuesday posts to Photograph

I think it is beginner's luck to find your family cemetery stone in the first row, if that is where you begin looking first. Yes, I was very lucky. The photo below is for my 3rd cousin, 5 times removed, and not only is it up front, there is a stone wall around almost two sides of it. Getting a decent photo was made difficult because of the angle, and shade. However, as you can see below, I lightened the stone, as seen by the background and cropped as much as possible. Last step was to straighten the picture.

In memory of

Mr.

Jonathan Pool

who died 25-08

1807 aged 60.

Original photo below.

These two pictures (above and below) show the wall.

Above photo of Jonathan's daughter's tombstone.

In memory of Miss

Nancy Pool, dau.

of Mr. Jonathan and

Mrs. Ann Pool

who died 21 Feb.

1789 aged ___.

 Note: I really wish I had moved those leaves. My records show Nancy was 16, and I plan on retaking this photo.

Taken at Laural Hill Cemetery in Reading, Massachusetts, where I have other direct ancestors and family members buried.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana on Veterans Day. See My Photos!

The original date of this post, Thursday, November 12, 2009.

Every once and a while there is an article about Princess Diana, and I'm often reminded of when I saw her in person. Yesterday was the 17th anniversary of her tragic death. This post was written almost five years ago.

____________

November 11, 1985, three hours was a pretty exciting day. The three-hour wait to get a glimpse of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was worth the effort. I claimed my spot just about 7 AM on a rather nice sunny day in Springfield, Virginia, outside of Washington, DC. The sharpshooters and press were already in place at the mall parking lot, where the couple would soon be. They were going to open an exhibit of British merchandise (I think clothes) at J. C. Penney's. Once the motorcade arrived, everybody was so excited, esp. me, since I was at the barricade, and had a great view as they drove past me. The photos are the proof. Once inside the store, we all patiently waited to see what would happen when they left. Well, they both walk over to the crowds, and a lucky few got to shake their hands. There was a policeman in front of me much of the time, so I couldn't take all the pictures I wanted, he was just in the way. A pretty exciting day for Veterans Day.

The original Photo is below.

Another time, maybe in 1993, I was two blocks from where I worked and had heard that Prince Charles was going to visit the Octagon House in Washington, DC. So at lunch, I went over with a few co-workers and waited a good hour, but he did show up. A quick wave to us, and he went inside. No press, and very little security. But it got better...I left work at 4:00 and walked by the House, thinking that just maybe I'd see him, and I did, with no wait at all. He must have been right on my schedule because as I walked by, he came out of the House. There were only a handful of people, and he waved and said, "hi." I'll always remember his lovely lavender shirt.