9/11 memorial ceremony to mark 20 years since attacks

The Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department is holding a 9/11 remembrance ceremony on September 6 at 6 p.m. at the Franklin Square September 11 Memorial at Rath Park to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks that took place two decades ago on September 11, 2001.

“This year, we remember the tragic events that occurred 20 years ago on September 11th, 2001. Join the Franklin Square & Munson Fire Dept as we honor those that were lost on that faithful day,” the fire department said in an August 17 Facebook post urging members of the Franklin Square community to attend the event.

“The ceremony is for honoring the victims of 9/11,” said Frank Culmone, the treasurer of the Franklin Square Civic Association. “Those who perished that day, those who have been sick and have perished since, those who are still sick, and all of the families that went through it – that’s who we want to honor most,” Culmone said.

The Chief of the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department Dominick Labianca said the ceremony is meant to honor and remember the lives of those who died on September 11, 2001. “Just to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The innocent people who murdered that day for no reason. To resolve that we will never forget them,” Labianca said.

The one-hour-long ceremony will include a reading of the names of residents of Franklin Square and nearby communities who died on September 11, 2001. Roses are to be placed next to the plaques at Rath Park’s 9/11 memorial bearing the names of those who died that day. The memorial recently received a landmark from the civic association: a September 11 remembrance banner displayed on a utility pole next to the park’s memorial as part of the group’s hometown heroes program.

“They were all heroes,” Culmone said.

“It’s something that we will never forget. We have to always remember that day in our history and remember it. Especially for those of us who lived through that day,” said Adrienne McKenna, correspondence secretary of the Franklin Square Civic Association.

“Having experienced the event firsthand, I just want people to never forget. It was definitely a dark day for our country and a lot of people suffered personal losses.”
McKenna said that the event should serve as a reminder of the national unity the country experienced following the 2001 terrorist attacks. “There was such a sense of patriotism after that happened. Everybody bonded together,” Mckenna said. “I don’t remember experiencing anything else like that. You just want to feel that patriotism.”

“20 years later and it still affects people,” Culmone said. “The community still can feel that feeling; it was like a gut punch to everybody,” he added.

“It serves as a constant reminder about all that is great about our country and that freedom comes at a price,” Labianca said.