Massachusetts Republicans Pay Respect To First Responders On September 11

Printed from: https://newbostonpost.com/2020/09/11/massachusetts-republicans-pay-respect-to-first-responders-on-september-11/

Republicans across Massachusetts paid their respects to first responders and those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 radical Islamic terrorist attacks.

On Friday morning, Republicans gathered at more than 20 locations across the state for Back The Blue events, and over the course of Friday, and Saturday, there will have been 29 events.

That included one that took place near Milton’s town hall on Friday morning organized by Republican state committeeman Steve Fruzzetti of the Norfolk, Bristol & Plymouth District.

People showed up with their own pro-police flags and American flags. Fruzzetti also got signs from the MassGOP that said “MA Backs The Blue” and gave them out to attendees.

“It’s been good,” Fruzzetti told New Boston Post at the event. “We wanted to show respect for our first responders and have been getting a lot of good responses. We’re seeing a lot of people going by supporting the police, which is important at a time when the Left wants to defund them. We’re out here defending them which is what everyone should be doing these days.”

Although there was some light rain, about 15 to 20 people showed up, and people there continued showing their support for some time despite the weather conditions.

“It shows people really care and will never forget what happened today,” Fruzzetti said, referring to the September 11 terrorist attacks. “We got a decent turnout for a weekday morning and are grateful for everyone who showed up in support. I think everyone remembers where they were when they found out about 9/11, and it’s a tough day for a lot of people.”

Also attending was Rayla Campbell, a Randolph Republican who is running for a U.S. House seat in Massachusetts’s Seventh Congressional District against U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Dorchester).

The Milton event was one of a few Back The Blue events on Campbell’s schedule for the day.

“Today is really important to me. I remember exactly where I was when it happened and what the first responders did for our country. They went in there selflessly, knowing they could possibly never come out, and a lot of them never came out, and others are still suffering to this day. We have to make sure we’re protecting them like they’re protecting us.”

Campbell, who graduated from Scituate High School in 2000, was working for Delta Dental in Boston when the September 11 attacks happened. She told New Boston Post that it was terrifying being in the city of Boston. She and others in her workplace were told the Everett Liquefied Natural Gas Facility, Tobin Bridge, and Zakim Bridge could also be targeted.

“That was the scariest thing. I didn’t know if I was going to make it home because they came out of Logan,” she said, referring to American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175. “We were thinking that there were planes coming back. Being so young and having that happen, watching people jump out of the buildings, praying and waving for help, it was the most devastating thing I’ve ever seen.

“I’ll never forget and we need to make sure we keep those memories alive because that changed the shape of this country,” she continued. “It changed the actual skyline of New York. We are stronger now than we’ve ever been, and we need to continue to protect the people in our country.”