RI officials honor 9/11 victims on 23rd Anniversary

NORTH SCHITUATE, R.I. (WLNE) — Communities all across the Ocean Stare gathered to remember the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, and the thousands of people who lost their lives.

Dozens gathered in North Scituate Wednesday morning, to remember the 2,977 people killed, as well as the lives lost in the Global War on Terror that followed.

“That uncertainty, the fear, the panic. Our outrage and grief that swept across our nation. But as I stand here today I’m reminded of the inspiring bravery and heroism that we witnessed in the days after and the years after,” said Governor Dan McKee.

Among the nearly three thousand people who died that day, there were nine Rhode Islanders among them.

Patrick Nassaney, the father of Shawn Nassaney, said his son and his girlfriend Lynn Goodchild were on the first leg of a vacation to Hawaii.

“They both graduated from Bryant University, they both were working towards their MBA’s at Providence College. And they were the life of the party, fun loving people but very very family oriented,” he said.

After more than two decades, Nassaney said the remembrances have changed, but the day will always be important.

“Ceremonies such as this continue to bring to mind what 9/11 represents,” he said.

“Somebody once said that eventually 9/11 will be like December 7, Pearl Harbor Day. And it’s a tragedy but none the less, people say life goes on,” he added.

Nassaney said the rest of the day will be spent going through photos with the other families and remembering those who were lost.