By Carol Britton Meyer

There will be a 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Hull this year after all.

Following the recent decision to adjust the frequency of town-sponsored 9/11 events to an every-five-years schedule rather than annually as has been the case for nearly two decades, two Hull citizens are planning a ceremony on their own to carry on the tradition.

Former select board member John Reilly explained that when he talked with Mary Jane Silva, who has been involved with organizing the ceremony since 2002, after she first heard this news, she told him how disappointed she and a number of others who participated regularly in the annual event were when they heard it was canceled.

“I told Mary Jane that I would help if she and others who have been involved in the past wanted to organize a 9/11 ceremony as a private group, which they did,” Reilly told The Hull Times.

He will return in his former role as master of ceremonies and as the main event organizer, with assistance from Silva and others.

The remembrance was organized by Reilly and others since the 9/11 attacks in 2001, and most recently by select board member Domenico Sestito, Fire Chief Chris Russo, Silva, Town Manager Philip Lemnios, and other town officials and members of the community.

“Due to reasons within [rather than outside] our control, citizens of Hull have come together and planned an evening of honor and remembrance,” Silva said. “Rabbi David Grossman has graciously invited us to hold the event in the Boyer Auditorium at Temple Beth Sholom [600 Nantasket Ave.]. After a brief hiatus, John will resume his role as emcee for this event.”

The event is planned for Sunday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. and will feature music by the South Shore Men of Harmony, the Interfaith Choir, and Lily Sestito and her brother, Tony Carbone, performing the moving song, “The Prayer.”

Plans, which are still in the works, may also include a keynote speaker and a high school student doing a reading.

“I really think our youth should be involved,” Silva said.

The format will be similar to past ceremonies, with adjustments made according to participation of various groups, Reilly said. “All are welcome.”

 Local officials will be invited, along with the state Representative and Senator and Congressman Stephen Lynch, but there is no expectation of formal town involvement, according to Reilly.

Lemnios explained last week the reason behind planning a five-year remembrance moving forward.

“At the conclusion of last year’s event, it was observed by many in attendance that we should go on a five-year schedule to allow the event to be re-invigorated,” he said. “This event was becoming overly repetitive, with attendance diminishing in part because much of what can be said has been said over the years.”

At the same time, Lemnios noted there is nothing that would prevent Silva or another resident from hosting an event this year. “What occurred is important and will never be forgotten,” he said at the time.

Fire Chief Chris Russo, who participated in the recovery effort in the aftermath of the terror attacks in New York, said he agreed that large-scale ceremonies could be scaled back after the passage of time.

“I understand there is passion and respect that motivate residents to keep us all remembering our country’s history, especially tragic events, and we welcome the community’s help and support,” Russo said. “This doesn’t mean we will ever forget – trust me, many of us will never,  ever forget what we saw first-hand, nor will the families that lost loved ones.”

Russo said that this year and going forward, the fire department will host a small gathering at Central Fire Station on the morning of Sept. 11 and that the public will be invited.

In response to an email about the event that citizens are planning, Lemnios responded, “It is good to see that those who need to meet and observe the events of September 11 will have a venue to do so.”

Silva said there has been some very positive feedback about the upcoming 9/11 event and expressed appreciation for all those who showed support for holding a ceremony this year as usual.

“With their help and dedication, they have made this all possible again. We invite the community to join us for an evening that they will truly remember.”

Watch for updates in next week’s edition of The Hull Times.