Community pays tribute to victims

Local residents gathered at Eisenhower Park on Sept. 9 for the county’s annual sunset ceremony to honor Nassau residents who perished during the events of 9/11.

The event took place at the Nassau County 9/11 Memorial, located along Salisbury Lake on the Merrick Avenue side of the park.

Joined by County Executive Tom Suozzi, friends and family members of the deceased helped read off the names of nearly 350 residents from Nassau who died during the attacks of 9/11. Those names are posted on the 9/11 memorial, which is open to the public.

Two days later, on a rainy Sept. 11, the East Meadow Fire Department paid tribute to the victims of 9/11.

The wet weather did not stop the East Meadow Fire Department and the community from remembering the events of Sept. 11, 2001 with its annual candlelight vigil.

The event, held on the eighth anniversary of 9/11, was moved from Town Square Veterans Memorial Park to the East Meadow Fire Department Headquarters.

The evening including an emotional Sept. 11 photo montage, guest speeches and a vigil to remember the fallen. Students from the Bowling Green K-Kids made a special presentation of cookies to the firefighters as a tribute to their services to the community.