On Sept. 11, 2001, Wayland awoke to a beautiful, cloudless sky and a few hours of blissful ignorance before the world was forever changed by the terrorist attacks. Twenty-five years later, Wayland remembers — and gives back.
That morning on Oak Hill Road, Stephanie Holland set out for a run with her babies in their stroller. Unbeknownst to her, the plane carrying her mother, Cora Holland, had crashed into the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m.
Holland remembers the kindness from friends, family and the community in the weeks that followed.
“People randomly showed up with food and flowers,” said Holland. “Even strangers arrived with gifts for my children.”
Holland had always understood just how important it was for her mother to give to others. And a quarter-century since that fateful day, she has done the same. She’s spent the last 25 occurrences of Sept. 11 sharing her story, remembering her mother, and speaking publicly. She even ran the Boston Marathon three times to raise money for the Good Grief Program at Boston Medical Center, which works closely with 9/11 families.
But this year, Holland will give back by doing something that would truly resonate with her mother.
“We are having an open house,” she said. “The purpose is to celebrate life, honor my mother, and bring the community together. We’ll also be collecting donations for the Sudbury Food Pantry and will make a donation in honor of her.”
One of Cora Holland’s favorite activities was volunteering at the Sudbury Food Pantry, when it was located in the basement of Our Lady of Fatima Church.
Wayland also lost 1983 Wayland High School graduate Jane Louise Simpkin. A bench inscribed with a portion of a poem she wrote, dedicated to her memory by classmates, was brought from the old high school to the new high school and has a permanent home outside the Arts Building.
At tonight’s football game between the Wayland Warriors and the Hopkinton Hillers — the season opener for both teams — the annual halftime show in observance of Sept. 11 will take place. Orchestrated by WHS Band director Joseph Oneschuk Jr., the show will commence at around 5:40 p.m. and will honor Wayland veterans, police, and fire personnel
During the show, the local heroes will take the field and present the colors. Activities will also include the reading of a speech by President Ronald Reagan, the Navy hymn, a moment of silence, Taps, and a gun salute by Wayland veteran Paul Rufo.
Oneschuk remembers exactly where he was when the attacks began. On that morning, he was showing students at the elementary schools different instruments that they might be interested in playing in the coming years.
“Everything was happening so fast,” said Oneschuk. “I was at Claypit and the secretary Debbie Besso pulled me aside privately and informed me of what had happened with the Twin Towers. I did not tell the children and we continued on to Happy Hollow before returning to the high school.”
Oneschuk felt compelled to find a way to honor Wayland’s local first responders and heroes and decided to honor them during the next home football game. A few days later, on Friday, Sept. 14, he led a patriotic halftime show that welcomed and celebrated police, fire and local veterans. The tradition has taken place every year since, and tonight’s Friday night show will fall on the actual date of Sept. 11.
“During that very first patriotic half-time show, none of the players went into the locker room,” Oneschuk recalled. “Instead, they remained on the sidelines and held up their helmets.”
Wayland will hold a public remembrance ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. at the Public Safety Building (38 Cochituate Road).
