Air Force Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Jonathan Treacy to Give Keynote at 25th Annual 9/11 State House Commemoration
Media Contact:
Tim Boivin media@massfund.org
978-793-4515
Air Force Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Jonathan Treacy
Former Commander of 101st Fighter Squadron Led Unit that Scrambled Otis Fighter Jets in First Air Defense Response to Terrorist Attacks in New York City
BOSTON, MA, AUGUST 20, 2026 – The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund today announced that Air Force Maj. Gen. Jonathan Treacy will give the keynote address at the Massachusetts State House 25th Annual Commemoration honoring the loved ones who were lost in the terrorist attacks on 9/11.
Treacy will speak during the Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award ceremony in the State House, which begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 11th. The theme of this year’s commemoration is Massachusetts Remembers: United We Stand.
The State House ceremonies, which are invitation-only events, will be live-streamed for the public at: https://www.massfund.org/annual-massachusetts-commemoration
On the morning of September 11th, 2001, then Lt. Col. Treacy was the commander of the 101st Fighter Squadron at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod, where he led the squadron that provided the initial air defense force response over New York City on 9/11.
Treacy also led the 101st through two combat deployments to Southwest Asia: Operations NORTHERN and SOUTHERN WATCH. During his accomplished military career, he also served as the Deputy Director for Antiterrorism and Homeland Defense, the Joint Staff; the acting Director of Staff, National Guard Bureau; and as the Commander, Joint Task Force Civil Support, U.S. Northern Command’s Standing Operational Joint Task Force.
“I am honored to serve as the keynote speaker for the 25th Annual 9/11 Commemoration ceremony at the Massachusetts State House,” Treacy said. “Immediately following the attacks, we Americans rallied together and, joined by our allies, stood united in our resolve to fight terrorism. After 25 years of difficult lessons, one truth stands out: unity is our strength. I believe it is our duty to honor those taken from us by being strong enough to reunite as a nation.”
The Commemoration activities will begin at 8:30 a.m. on the State House Steps on Beacon Street with the Reading of the Names. That portion of the commemoration will pause at 8:46 a.m., the time that American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center, for a moment of silence.
The Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in the State House Chambers. The Commemoration activities will then conclude with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and the families of the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund laying a wreath at the 9/11 Memorial in the Boston Public Garden at 1 p.m.
ABOUT THE MASSACHUSETTS 9/11 FUND
The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund, a 501c3 nonprofit organization established in December 2001, has a two-fold mission: to provide assistance to families impacted by the attacks, and to educate the public about the events and the impact on those families and all communities across Massachusetts. Anniversary Commemoration events, the Garden of Remembrance in the Boston Public Garden, and educator resources are all supported by the Fund to ensure the events of September 11, 2001, and those lost on that day, are not forgotten.