The Wilbur theater in Boston’s theater district gave life to a 911 remembrance concert that stirred the emotions and echoed the chorus, never forget. Pauline Wells emotional introduction and vocal on “Angel Flight” sung in front of many families who’s sons and daughters were carried home on these flights, brought front and center the price that is paid for freedom. In case you don’t know angel flights are the words to describe the planes that return the dead back to the States from the foreign lands these soldiers fought and died in.

Never forget, always remember,  never forget Firefighter and hero, and casualty of 911 Moira Smith who perished at the world trade center but not before helping dozens of people to safety. Moira smith could have stayed in her precinct miles away from ground zero, but she didn’t, she could have helped in other ways, but she didn’t, she could have chosen to let others die and leave, but she didn’t. Moira Smith died in the World trade center aftermath helping others live. Pauline sang a stirring heart wrenching version of “Grace” with a soulful whistle played in the background paid tribute to this young woman who’s life was cut short by the barbaric senseless attacks on 911.

In between these soulful emotional songs of loss and tribute Pauline and the band, made up of Irish vetran players DEVRI, threw in some Elvis, and Willie, and some Irish set music as well. As Pauline put it “Now that We’ve taken you to the depths of despair we’re gonna liven it up a bit. DEVRI, consisting of Declan Houton, Larry Flint, Stevie O’Callahan, Chuck Parish, Caroline O’Shea, Martin McPhilemy and Wendy Sobel, played a set of reels/runaway train, which got the joint rocking.

There were members of Seal Team 6 in attendance, though they never were pointed out or wanted attention. Pauline and Caroline performed a beautiful tribute to the Seal Team members who died in the course of duty, “The Minstrel Boy”, echoed in the silent hall as a tribute to these brave patriots. The feeling and the remembrance, the anger and loss, the moment of 911 and the good men gone, remain fresh in this writers memory, I never connected directly to remember pearl harbor until that beautiful fall day in September 2001. Never forget, what haters of freedom will do to wrench freedom from America, stand up, speak up, step up.

Pauline leaves the stage and some lively tunes are played until she returns in her Cambridge Lieutenants dress uniform to start a sing a long to God Bless America, Then the pipe bands from Boston and NewYork lead a parade down the streets of Boston to M.J. O’Connors Pub across from the Four Seasons Hotel. Nothing like taking over a six lane major byway through the center of Boston led by Boston and New York’s finest with bagpipes blazing and the fresh memory of one outstanding musical display fresh in your memory. The parade was so big I felt it deserved that run on sentence.

The night was beautiful, soulful, funny, and tearful. The hair standing up on your back as the images of the Twin Towers aflame with jet fuel and humanity thankfully opened the wound again. At the pub most enjoy the freedoms we still have, expressed our gratitude for the music and the service of the police, fire, and veterans present.

 

On this beautiful fall day in 2012 on the 11 day, with a sky above me as blue and hopeful as that day 11 years ago I cannot write a post about the fantastic music or tunes or songs, though they were all that. I could write about the singers fighting back the emotion so as to perform their craft, or the whistle player who did her best not to watch the Images on the bigscreen, as it’s hard to blow a whistle or flute through tears. I will instead write a thank you, to those who served. I will write that We Americans must never forget, always remember, never be passive again, defend our freedoms on a daily basis in whatever ways we can, even as simply as speaking up for our freedoms. We are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, among these are Life, Liberty, and, The Pursuit of Happiness. So in defiance of the small minded anti freedom controllers in this world, Live, be Free, and really piss them off by being Happy,

Cheers,

Brian O’Shea American Citizen.