Town Eyeing 'Celebration' for Big Post-9/11 'First'

There aren't many things to celebrate about the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, although Hampton officials are looking to commemorate a much-anticipated and welcomed "first" next month.

Each year since 9/11, has added to its the names of New Hampshire residents who have fallen in combat.

To date, though, no Granite State natives have lost their lives fighting terrorism, which is why Post Cmdr. Ralph Fatello was excited to announce Monday night — while knocking repeatedly on a wooden table — that they plan to engrave two symbolic images onto the granite monument this year instead of any new names.

"This is almost a celebration as much as it is an observance," said Fatello. "If we don’t add a single name, it'll be first time since Sept. 11, 2001, that one of New Hampshire's sons or daughters did not get [his or her] name on that monument."

Fifty-seven New Hampshire servicemen and women have lost their lives in the line of duty since 9/11. The downtown Hampton monument, located outside Post 35 on High Street, to accommodate the growing number of deaths.

Fatello said the legion hopes that number continues to hold steady. If it does, he said an image of the Lady By The Sea — a — will be engraved on the monument's east stone while an image of the Old Man of the Mountain will be engraved on the west stone.

"Wouldn’t it be wonderful to not have new names but [those] two historic symbols of our state?" Fatello rhetorically asked Hampton selectmen on Monday. "That’s New Hampshire right there."

There will also be another "first" during the half-hour remembrance ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 11, as Fatello said this year's speakers will only talk about the individuals memorialized on the monument — not their memories of 9/11, .

"I don’t want to hear about where you were on Sept. 11 and your experiences on Sept. 11," said Fatello. "I want to hear about the names on that monument."

Traffic to be rerouted around Post 35, which is just east of the High Street and Winnacunnet Road intersection, on Sept. 11 during the ceremony. There is no parade scheduled, according to Fatello.

More information about the ceremony will soon be posted on the Post 35 website.