WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington dedicated its new 9/11 Memorial last Thursday, September 10 at 6pm in the Wilmington High School Auditorium. The Memorial is located in the high school’s courtyard.
Mark Staffier, the Wilmington 9/11 Memorial Committee’s faculty co-advisor, began the ceremony by putting the spotlight on his students.
“I can’t say enough about our students,” said Staffier. “This four-year project was driven by the students… The students deserve all the credit.”
Staffier explained how it was a student — Michelle Murray — who actually designed the memorial. He also stressed that it was the students, with the assistance of author Julie Fennell and the Wilmington Historical Commission, who helped raise the necessary funds for the construction of the memorial. Staffier noted that some students involved in the project came back to help the group even after graduating from Wilmington High.
Staffier also praised the residents of Wilmington for their support of the project and their display of patriotism and community.
(Tracey Kassin, the Wilmington 9/11 Memorial Committee’s other faculty co-advisor, was unable to attend.)
Cora Vitale, President of the Wilmington 9/11 Memorial Committee, spoke next, stressing the memorial will educate both current and future students, including students not yet born on September 11, 2001.
Vitale announced that Wilmington High School will participate in 9/11 Day, which asks participants to do one good deed on September 11. She encouraged all Wilmington community members to take the challenge.
Rick McClellan, Wilmington Fire Chief, focused his brief remarks on the history of the World Trade Center.
“The World Trade Center employed 50,000 people, which is the population of Wilmington and Tewksbury combined,” said McClellan. “It took six years to build and was brought down in one hour and 42 minutes by 10 terrorists.”
McClellan then thanked the High School Building Committee and Wilmington 9/11 Memorial Committee for their efforts. He singled out retired Wilmington Lieutenant John Brown, who was instrumental in Wilmington receiving an important piece of 9/11 history.
McClellan noted that 850 steel beams were recovered from the World Trade Center site and cut into 2,200 portions. Thanks to Brown’s efforts, Wilmington recently received one of those portions.
“I ask students to remember one thing — that piece of steel could be from the 100th floor, the 50th floor, or any floor, but let us not forget the journey it has taken to its final resting spot.”
After drawing parallels between Pearl Harbor and September 11, Lou Cimaglia, Wilmington Veterans Agent, praised Wilmington for remembering not just the victims of 9/11, but the brave men and women who keep America safe following the attacks, including those that have made the ultimate sacrifice.
“We, in Wilmington, have not forgotten.” declared Cimaglia. “I couldn’t be more proud.”
Cimaglia pointed to all the veterans memorials around town, the MIA chair in the new high school auditorium, and the large turnouts at the town’s Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies.
John Brown, a retired Wilmington firefighter, next discussed the story behind how he was able to arrange for Wilmington to receive a piece of a steel beam from the World Trade Center. The beam, approximately a foot by a foot and weighing 80 pounds, was cut by a person who had lost a brother and cousin on September 11.
Brown reached out to Lee Ielpi, co-founder of the 9/11 Tribute Center and board member of the 9/11 National Museum. Ielpi, who lost a son — firefighter Jonathan Ielpi — during 9/11, had embraced a three-fold mission — supporting victims’ families, spreading tolerance (“hope, not hatred”) and educating the public about the day’s tragic events.
“I left a message with Ielpi and he got back to me within an hour,” recalled Brown. “He said: If the steel will be used so folks will never forget, then it’s yours.”
Superintendent of Schools Mary DeLai then recognized all the members of the Wilmington 9/11 Memorial Committee, including: Corae Vitale (President), Jillian Troy (Vice President), Ivan Yermakov, Jessica D’Entremont, Jessica Moore, Jill Roche, Katie Colombo, Lindsey Amazeen, Makayla Donahue, Mia O’Connell, Rachel Gullotto, Sabrina Doyle, Samantha Colombo, Sara Troy, Thomas Hogan, Danielle Baldi, Julianna Mastrorilli, Olivia Kelly, Samantha Pitzi, Shannon Horgan, Jayne Wierzibick, Alexa Peroni, Molly Gentile, Matt DeAmbrose, David Bell, Mark Staffier (Advisor) and Tracey Kassin (Advisor).
The Wilmington High School Marching Band performed “The Star Spangled Banner” and “America The Beautiful” during the ceremony.
Former Superintendent of Schools Joanne Benton and former Town Manager Michael Caira were both in attendance, and received recognition from several of the evening’s speakers.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the Library Media Center, where attendees were able to view both the 9/11 Memorial and the piece of a steal beam from the World Trade Center. While the memorial is in the courtyard off of the library, the beam is encased and mounted on the wall in the library, to the left of the courtyard entrance.
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Wilmington Apple 
When will you list the articles that were in the time capsule? will you include pics?
Hi Phil. Article will go up late tonight. Contents were a bit of a letdown — nothing too exciting. There will be photos in the article.