On 9/11, Merrick American Legion unveils memorial built with World Trade Center beam

The Merrick American Legion’s ceremony to remember the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks started solemnly on Sunday with an invocation by Rabbi Paul Kirchner, but surprisingly it ended on an upbeat note when Sacred Heart School sixth-grader Alyssa Pallotta, dressed in a pink dress, took to the podium and sang “God Bless America.” Many in the crowd of 200 spontaneously joined hands and sang this most American of songs.

The hour-long ceremony, during which a new Sept. 11 monument built with a World Trade Center beam was unveiled, began at 10 a.m. American Legion Post 1282 members Walter Ellensohn, the monument chairman, Harry Crosby, Commander Edward Sholander and Robert Riordan led the memorial service.

Peter Holmstedt, owner of the Citgo gas station in Merrick, donated funds to create the new memorial, which is encircled by a ring of 15 yellow mums, one for each of Merrick’s 15 Sept. 11 victims. Pasquale Tyosto of Pat’s Farms donated the flowers.

A number of elected officials spoke at the ceremony. State Assemblyman David McDonough of North Merrick said, “No matter what these terrorists did, they cannot shake our foundation. People we know and loved were taken from us. Our deep strength enabled us to go on.”

State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. of Merrick referred to the memorial as a “remembrance garden.” “Children who were not even born 10 years ago…must know what happened,” he said.

In the end, Fuschillo said, “The best of humanity prevailed.”

Nassau County Legislator Norman Gonsalves of East Meadow said that “those who attacked us on this terrible day tried to weaken us.” But, she noted, the attacks only strengthened the nation.

“Nothing can destroy our resolve,” said Gonsalves.

County Legislator David Denenberg said, “That day we were reminded that our way of life … is what was under attack.” But, he said, the American way of life “is stronger than ever” 10 years after the attacks.

Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Angie Cullin of Freeport reminded residents to keep the families of the Sept. 11 victims “in your prayers.”

And former county executive Thomas Gulotta of North Merrick said, “The people who lost their lives were not statistics. They were our families, our friends … They were from here, from within our community.”

The Rev. Eric Fasano offered the benediction.

The Merricks' Sept. 11 victims

Paul Battaglia

Mark Brisman

Herman Broghammer

Thomas Crotty

Ronnie Gies

David Grimner

Aram Iskendarian

James Kelly

Farrell Lynch

Sean Lynch

Thomas McHale

Katherine McGarry-Noack

Brian Sweeney

John Vaccacio

Frank Vignola.

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