For Immediate Release

Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: john@jgpr.net

*Media Advisory* Stoneham to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Fire Station, 9/11 Exhibit Visits Massachusetts for the First Time

STONEHAM — The Stoneham Fire Station Centennial Celebration Committee would like to invite the community to attend the 100th anniversary of the fire station this weekend — where the 9/11 NEVER FORGET MOBILE EXHIBIT will be on display for the first time in Massachusetts.

First responders will meet the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to escort the Sept. 11 exhibit to Stoneham, and the committee encourages the public to line the streets as it makes its way to the Stoneham Fire Station.

Additionally, Stoneham Girl Scouts will celebrate their 100th anniversary.

“This is going to be a great event that commemorates not only the history of the fire department, but our town and girl scouts. We’ll also recognize all the lives that were lost on Sept. 11 through the 9/11 NEVER FORGET MOBILE EXHIBIT,” Committee Co-Chair Tara Lawler said. “We hope to see residents enjoying the multitude of festivities we have planned.”

WHEN

On Friday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. at the Showcase Cinemas in Woburn, Stoneham Fire and Police, along with a Massachusetts State Police cruiser and motorcycle unit, will meet the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s vehicle carrying the exhibit. They will to escort the 9/11 NEVER FORGET MOBILE EXHIBIT along Route 128/95 to Route 28/Main Street in Stoneham, and eventually land at the Fire Station.

Then, on Saturday, Oct. 1, festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with a parade.

Residents can view the 9/11 NEVER FORGET MOBILE EXHIBIT at Stoneham Town Hall. The exhibit is free to visit from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at South School, 11 Summer St., and continues for about half a mile down Main Street before ending at the fire department headquarters on Central Street.

WHO

Officials will be available to address the media on the event at 1:30 p.m. at the 9/11 NEVER FORGET MOBILE EXHIBIT in front of Stoneham Town Hall:

• Fire Chief Matthew Grafton
• Fire Captain Jim Marshall
• Lisa Reiss, Coordinator for the 9/11 NEVER FORGET MOBILE EXHIBIT
• FDNY Firefighters Richard Murray and Michael Fitzgerald
• Maureen Buckley of the Stoneham Girl Scouts

WHAT

This year, the Stoneham Fire Station, located at 25 Central St., turns 100 years old! As part of the celebration, there will be antique engines and cars on display, tours of the fire station, a parade, children’s activities and more.

Antique fire engines – 1849 hand pumper from Goffstown, N.H. and 1931 Seagrave Open Cab from Tennessee — along with Stoneham fire and police vehicles, military cars, a pipe and drum marching band, the Beantown Trolley, Action Ambulance, American Legion Color Guard, Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club and floats celebrating Stoneham Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary will ride in the parade. Shirley Murray, a lifetime Girl Scout member, retired Fire Chief Ray Sorenson and retired Fire Lt. Bob Marshall will serve as Grand Marshalls.

Food vendors and a children’s activity area will be on the Town Common and five new firefighters will be sworn in after the parade. Additionally, a commemorative ceremony at noon will include the reading of the names of deceased firefighters, which will be held at Stoneham Firefighter Memorial Park.

In the event of severe inclement weather, children’s activities and the line to wait for admission to the Sept. 11 exhibit will be moved indoors to Town Hall. The swearing in and commemorative ceremony will be moved to inside the Fire Station. 

While celebrating, use #stoneham100 when posting or tweeting about the event!

Committee members would also like to remind out of town attendees that Stoneham is accessible by public transportation, via the MBTA Orange Line at Oak Grove and the Route 132 bus to Stoneham. Individuals who want to access public transportation should visit the MBTA website for schedules.

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