25 years: Mainers hold solemn ceremonies recalling the 9/11 attacks
Portland Marks 25th Anniversary of 9/11 with Memorial at Fort Allen Park
PORTLAND, ME – A solemn gathering on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, drew residents, first‑responders and visitors to Fort Allen Park, where Portland marked 25 years since the terrorist attacks that claimed 2,977 lives nationwide, including 343 firefighters and 72 law‑enforcement officers. The ceremony, held on the park’s lawn overlooking Casco Bay, featured a field of 415 small U.S. flags, a large flag hung between two ladder trucks, and a salute from the city’s fireboat, all accompanied by a bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace.”
Personal Loss and Community Remembrance
Patty Lynch, a 66‑year‑old customer‑service representative at TD Bank in South Portland, watched the live broadcast of the attacks from her workplace’s waiting room on Sept. 11, 2001. “It was utter shock. It was overwhelming. I felt like other people weren’t affected as much as me,” she recalled. Lynch later learned that a close relative of her husband, Sean Patrick Lynch, was among 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees who perished when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower. “There’s a deep connection and real sense of loss in our family,” Lynch said, standing among the mourners.
The memorial also honored six Mainers who died that day: Robert and Jacqueline Norton of Lubec, who were aboard Flight 11; Stephen Ward of Gorham, a Cantor employee on the North Tower; Robert Jalbert of Lewiston on Flight 175; James Roux of Portland, an Army veteran on Flight 175 en route to Thailand; and U.S. Navy Commander Robert Schlegel of Gray, killed when Flight 77 struck the Pentagon.
Ceremony Highlights
Portland Fire Chief Chad Johnston and Police Chief Mark Dubois stood at attention as the fireboat sprayed water into the harbor. The honor guard of firefighters, led by Johnston, delivered a brief address. “Today we are here as a symbol of remembrance not only for those lost, but for the commitment that we’ve made to each other,” Johnston said. “We will never forget, we will continue to serve and we will always find hope in the human spirit.”
A field of 415 flags represented each firefighter and law‑enforcement officer who died in the attacks, while medical experts note that many more have suffered illnesses and deaths related to toxic exposure at Ground Zero. The ceremony also featured a 6‑meter U.S. flag draped against the clear blue sky, positioned between two ladder trucks parked along the Eastern Promenade.
Maine‑Wide Commemoration
Similar observances were held in South Portland, Kennebunk, Lewiston and Augusta. Across the state, residents and tourists gathered to reflect on the tragedy and its lasting impact. “It’s important to remember what happened and to celebrate our freedom,” said Barbara Sherman of Lincoln, Rhode Island, who had come to Portland with friends for the weekend.
On Friday, Governor Janet Mills addressed the crowd in her weekly radio address, calling for a moment of remembrance for the victims and for the first responders who “ran towards danger and stayed through the devastating aftermath.” She thanked those who had stepped up to keep the nation safe.
Historical Context and Ongoing Tributes
Portland Fire Chief Johnston, who joined the department just before 9/11 and was stationed at the deserted Portland International Jetport the next day, recalled the eerie silence. “I went to work on the 12th and there was nobody there. It was eerie. It wasn’t until later that we learned it started here,” he said.
The article also noted that two hijackers, Abdul Aziz al Omari and Mohamed Atta, had spent a day in Maine before the attacks, staying at a South Portland Comfort Inn, eating pizza, and shopping at Walmart before flying to Boston Logan International Airport.
In addition to the Portland memorial, the sky over Mount Washington in New Hampshire will be illuminated with two towers of light starting at 8 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday, visible as far as 135 miles. On Saturday, the Midcoast Community Band will host a free 9/11 remembrance concert in Tenants Harbor at 6:30 p.m.
Reflection
The Fort Allen Park ceremony brought together a community that has been shaped by the loss of a loved one and the bravery of first responders. Through flags, music, and quiet reflection, Portland honored those who died and reaffirmed a commitment to remembering the tragedy while celebrating the resilience and freedom that followed.
