As the nation paused to remember a day etched in collective memory, the Boston Police Department joined forces with the American Red Cross and the Boston Red Sox for a blood drive that has become an annual act of service on September 11th. According to a report published by the BPD, Commissioner Cox visited Fenway Park to mark the somber anniversary. Cox, alongside staff, volunteers, and donors, partook in moments of silence, remembering the lives lost 23 years ago.

While the event at Fenway is a fixture on this poignant day, it serves a practical purpose, gathering some 250 donors yearly. Remembering those who perished, Bostonians roll up their sleeves as a testament to resilience, and amid the shadows of tragedy, a sliver of hope is drawn from their veins. Commissioner Cox underscored this sentiment, noting the blood drive as "a great way to honor this painful day in our nation's history by doing a great service for others in need of blood." Despite the past's heavy cloak, the act of giving blood becomes a beacon of solidarity.

The partnership between the Red Cross and Boston Red Sox, as highlighted in the BPD's news release, is not a newfound alliance but a long-standing tradition. It's emblematic of a community knit tightly by shared grief and fortified by a commitment to aid those in need—a fitting tribute to lives interrupted and a city's unyielding spirit.

This year, as every year, the message is clear and resonate through deeds rather than words: we remember. But in the queue at Fenway, standing shoulder to shoulder, Bostonians send a silent message, one baton passed from hand to hand, binding the hearts of a city to the rhythm of "never forget." A spirit encapsulated in Commissioner Cox's statement at the blood drive, matching the gravitas of the day: "It is a great way to honor this painful day in our nation’s history by doing a great service for others in need of blood."