09/16/2026
This past Friday, we remembered those who served and lost their lives on 9/11, 25 years ago.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the people who came to see the service from community, to firefighters on and off duty, EMS and police. Thank you to HFD and HPD Honor Guards and to Whittier Technical Vocational High School, we couldn’t have done it without you all.
To Mayor Melinda Barrett, HFD Chief Chris Cesati, HFD Asst. Chief and President of the HFDCU Eric Tarpy, State Rep. Andy Vargas, and all of our other amazing speakers, thank you for taking the time to speak the names of each first responder who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Our readers include:
Mayor Melinda Barrett
Chief Chris Cesati, HFD
Asst. Chief Eric Tarpy, HFD, Pres./BOD HFDCU
William Laliberty, HFD Ret. Chief
Captain Robert Miles, HFD
John VonNessen, HFD
Taylor Gillette, HFD
Beth Laliberty, HFFM BOD
Thomas Mortimer, Haverhill Bank CEO
Diane Juknavorian, Pres./BOD HTMCU
Leanne Eastman, SVP Pentucket Bank
Taveiry Brito, Bright Bridge Credit Union
Lt. Kevin Lynch, HPD
Kevin Comeau, Comeau Funeral Home
Brian Farmer, Farmer and Sons Funeral Home
Scott Parechanian, Pres. Spaulding Brick Co.
To Dave Shultz and HCMedia, thank you for your diligent work on documenting our 9/11 memorial and the continued work you do for our community. To WHAV and all that shared the service online, thank you for shining light on such an important anniversary.
Other special thanks to Shawn Hughes (Bagpiper), Rich Shellene (Deputy Fire Chief HFD), Lt. Kevin Lynch, HPD (Taps), and Stephanie Carpenito (Singer, National Anthem) for their contributions to the program, you each made it such a special occasion.
On behalf of the HFFM and in the words of BOD member John MacCurtain, we remember those we lost 25 years ago not just with sorrow alone, but with gratitude— for their courage, and for the example they set for every first responder who has answered the call since.