Monday morning at 8:45 a.m., the time of the first attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, a recording with the names of all the lives lost on that day started to play in the main hall of the Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge.

Now a 16-year tradition at the cathedral, the Remember to Remember Sept. 11 event plays about three hours of recordings of the names of those who died when terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania, along with first-responders who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks.

“It totally suits our mission, which is the legacy of Veterans and their  families, and promoting them in a way that honors them and celebrates them and all who served,” said Cathedral of the Pines Executive Director Michelle Lowe. “We will always have some sort of remembrance for Sept. 11 here.”

Lowe said, like most Americans,   she remembers where she was on that day, in the cafeteria at her workplace at PC Connection. She recalls that workers pulled together two televisions to watch the broadcast. Her company, PC Connection, had clients who were in the towers, on the planes and in the Pentagon that day, she said.

“We were absolutely shocked. It hits hard, and it hits home,” Lowe said. “It’s an honor to be able to remember them.”

Organizer James Pelletier said that as the years go on, the population of people with a solid memory of that day shrinks. He said it’s important to continue the conversation around Sept. 11, both because of the lives lost, and how defining a moment it became in American history.

“It’s very important that people talk about this, and remember this, and remember that day, and especially, share that memory with people that don’t have that memory,” Pelletier said.

Pelletier said Sept. 11 was the “most-horrific day in American civilian life,” with attacks such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor or battles like Gettysburg being military events. The remains of many of those who died in the terrorist attacks were never recovered.

Pelletier, who helped to organize the recording of the names played at the event, said it has become part of the mission of the Remember to Remember Sept. 11 event to encourage those of older generations to share their memories of the day with younger ones who were either too young or born after the attacks happened.

A goal of the program moving forward will be to connect with schools and youth groups such as scouting groups to encourage conversations around Sept. 11.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s