Roughly two dozen islanders and Vashon Island Fire &Rescue personnel gathered in front of the fire department’s 9/11 memorial early Sunday morning for a brief remembrance service.

With a red, white and blue flower wreath hanging and others flowers scattered at the base of the memorial structure, the service began at 6:30 a.m. with island bagpiper John Dally playing “Going Home.”

As the last of the piper’s notes lingered in the brisk September morning air, the fire department’s chaplain, Father Tryphon, gave a message about remembering, loving and grieving those involved with the 9/11 attacks.

“May we stand with strangers who became neighbors that day and remember their grace and hospitality,” he said. “May we all remember with love and compassion, this day. May we grieve with those who still mourn and gain strength from those who responded.”

The service ended with Dally playing “Amazing Grace” as the department’s American flag was lowered to half-staff. But as the piper played, an unexpected noise spread through the crowd, laughter.

While the event was somber and respectful, a small, gray mouse afforded a lighthearted distraction as it poked its head out from a rock near the memorial. As “Amazing Grace” played, Father Tryphon stood closest to the mouse’s rock home and it ran up to him and touched its nose to his boot before running away.

“It had to be thinking, ‘What is all this racket on a Sunday morning,'” islander Vicki Ward said. “It was more than just a cute distraction as it ran up and actually touched Father Tryphon.”