PreviousNext

Mount Williams Donates Flowers to Spruce Up Fire Department Yard for 9/11 Ceremony

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — In preparation for the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the Fire Department wanted to clean up the side yard where it typically holds a remembrance ceremony.

"We wanted to make it look nicer because we are going to do a 9/11 ceremony here, so all of us got together, we cleaned it up, did all the stone work," said John Marlowe, firefighters' union president.

Marlowe said after their initial cleanup, the yard was still pretty bare, so they called Mount Williams Greenhouse for a quote on some plantings.

Instead, the business offered to donate the flowers and labor.

"They decided they wanted to do it for free," Marlowe said. "So they are donating all of the flowers and labor. They are a great group and great family. Great community members."

Berkshires Remember First Responders, Military Personnel Lost at 9/11 and Aftermath

By Jack Guerino & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Friday, September 11, 2026

North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, with Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre speaks at Friday's memorial. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The county's two cities held memorials on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. 

Great Barrington was scheduled to hold a dedication of piece of steel from the World Trade Center at 6 p.m.

North Adams held its ceremony in the fire station's side garden starting at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower.

 

The small square of grass was packed with police officers, firefighters, wire and alarm personnel, dispatchers, and Northern Berkshire EMS employees, and city employees, officials and community members. 

 

After the ceremonial tolling of the bell, an honor guard presented the colors.

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said it felt odd welcoming people to a very solemn event.

 

"What happened 25 years ago put a mark on emergency services. It put additional pressure on police, fire, EMS, and dispatchers," Macksey said. "While we remember those who lost their lives during 9/11, and those who ran to help as many as they could during 9/11, we have to pause and appreciate those who continue to serve despite that awful threat that occurred 25 years ago."

 

She said it was a direct attack on the United States and all of its people.

 

"It was a question of our freedoms and our ability to be safe in our communities," the mayor said. "I can say today that here in North Adams, it could happen to us, but I know with the professionalism of our Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and our dispatch team, we are a better community; we are a safer community than we were 25 years ago."