Mass of Remembrance marks 20th anniversary of Station nightclub fire

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WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) — A Mass of Remembrance on Sunday morning honored the 20th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

Monday marks 20 years since the 2003 tragedykilled 100 people and injured more than 200.

May they rest safe in His peace, and may you and I keep our promise to them, to never forget, to never forget until we see them again," Rev. Robert Marciano told the congregation at St. Kevin Church in Warwick.

Community members came together in prayer to honor the lives lost and all those forever changed the night of the Station nightclub fire. The fire was thefourth-deadliest fire at a nightclub in American history, and the second-deadliest in New England.

I remember thinking, 'How would I ever live through this? How, how am I going to live?'" survivor Gina Russo told WJAR.

For Russo, the service brought back a flood of emotion. Herfiancé, Alfred "Freddy"Crisostomi lost his life in the fire.

"My fiancé and I were there that night. He didn't make it, I did," she said.

Jody King lost his brother, Tracy, that night.

I try to remember the good things," he said. "Tracy was gregarious and out there and loved life. He would love the fact that we were here today."

The mass helped survivors, first responders, and families of victims alike, continue to heal and unite in the wake of tragedy.

I pray for continued healing," Providence Co-adjutor Bishop Richard Henning said. "I pray for all those who continue to put themselves at risk caring for others in our hospitals and first responders, and I hope and pray that we are become evermore a community that that has compassion and solidarity, one for each other."

For many, that outpouring of love is getting them through the challenging 20-year anniversary.

Thank you for the 20 years that you've stuck by us, all of you, the whole community," Russo said. "Thank you for not forgetting our 100 and all the survivors, all the survivors that have lived through this for the last 20 years."

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