The state's official ceremony to honor and celebrate the lives of those killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks was held last night at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport.  The names of the 161 victims with ties to Connecticut were read aloud. 

A memorial service is being held in Newtown at 8am today.  It's being hosted at the Route 302 home of Howard Lasher, in front of the American Flag mural painted across 6 trees on his property at 68 Dodgingtown Road.  An Invocation will be made by Reverend Matthew Crebbin and the National Anthem will be sung by Amber Cardinal.  Brief remarks will be offered by Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Erardi and Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton.  There will be a moment of silence at 8:46am.  Connecticut folk artist David Merrill, who painted the mural, and retired Army Col. Kevin McMahon, of the Wounded Warrior Project, will deliver remarks.  There will be a reading of the names, a placing of roses, rifle salute and Taps.  A closing benediction will be offered by Rabbi Eric Polokoff.

The fourteenth anniversary 9/11 is being marked in New Milford with a morning ceremony at Patriot's Way Plaza in the New Milford Railroad Station Parking area.  Residents are gathering around the 9/11 Monument at 8am. The service will commence at 8:46am. Bells will toll, a flag folding ceremony will follow.  First responders EMT, Police and Fire Departments will present the flag.  The National Anthem will be sung by Ray Plue.  An Invocation will be offered, followed by brief remarks from local and state officials.  God Bless America will be sung by the St. Francis Xavier Choir.  Piper Patrick Maguire will play Amazing Grace.

Wilton Firefighters Local 2233 and the Wilton Fire Department will host their annual remembrance ceremony at Wilton Fire Headquarters on Danbury Road to pay tribute.  The ceremony will begin at 10am by the 9/11 Memorial Monument in front of the fire station.  Members from all of Wilton’s emergency services will participate in the ceremony.  Tributes to those lost, prayers from local clergy, and songs performed by members of the Wilton Police and Fire Departments are all part of the ceremony.

Danbury is hosting a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at 6pm.  The ceremony takes place at Elmwood Park on Main Street.  That is the site of the City's 9/11 monument.  World-renowned glass artist Henry Richardson of Massachusetts designed a glass tower for the Memorial.  The twelve-foot tower of glass is mounted on a pentagon of Connecticut granite.  All Connecticut victims’ names of the 9/11 tragedy are etched into one panel of the tower. Danbury residents’ names are highlighted at eye-level. The glass tower is lighted from dusk to dawn.

Ridgefield is hosting a memorial service at the Ridgefield Parks & Recreation Center.  The ceremony is scheduled for 6:30pm at the September 11th Memorial Monument.  A 10-foot steel beam from the Twin Towers stands atop a pentagon-shaped base that reads, “Dedicated to those who fell and those who carry on. May we never forget.”  The rusted and jagged steel beam from the World Trade Center was transformed into a work of art by sculptor Chris Curnan, and dedicated in 2011.  Eight people with ties to Ridgefield died on 9/11.

Brookfield is also holding a service to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11.  The Service is being held at the Rotary Memorial Garden.  The service will also honor the service and sacrifice of those who defend homeland security.  First Selectman Bill Tinsley notes that a prayer for the safety of first responders will also be offered.  In announcing the ceremony, Tinsley said "Let us never forget those who lost their lives that day in a terrible act of terrorism against out nation."  The brief ceremony will begin at 7pm.