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Mostly Cloudy A time to reflect and remember for Rockville Centre
Villagers, officials honored the many lost, and first responders, at Sept. 11 commemorations last week
Marking the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Village of Rockville Centre hosted a brief commemoration last Sunday — the second of the week — at the site of New York Remembers, a state-sponsored exhibit on display at the Recreation Center through the end of September.
“No community suffered more than Rockville Centre,” said Mayor Francis Murray, noting that the village changed forever that day. But the response of good will and generosity, he said, proved that “we have not only survived this tragedy — we have prevailed.
“We must teach each new generation about this tragedy,” Murray added. “Our loved ones won’t be forgotten.”
The ceremony followed one on Sept. 7, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited the village to underline the significance of the exhibit — one of two on Long Island and 30 throughout the state — and the importance of learning lessons from the terrorist attacks and teaching them to new generations.
On Sept. 11
The ceremonies were hosted by Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tony Brunetta, and a number of officials, including Murray and State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, were on hand. On Sunday they were joined by Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard and Trustees Ed Oppenheimer, Kevin Glynn and Michael Sepe. County Comptroller George Maragos, Deputy Comptroller Joy Watson, County Legislator Joseph Scannell and Christian Browne, who has announced his candidacy for Scannell’s 5th District seat, also attended, along with Village Justice William Croutier and Board of Education Vice President Mark Masin. Police Commissioner Charles Gennario and Fire Department Chief John Busching led an honor guard.
The names of local residents who perished on Sept. 11 were read by former Mayor Eugene Murray, Gennario, Village Justice Kevin McDonough, public relations counsel Jeff Kluewer and J.R. Crowley, who lost her sister, Maureen Olson, in the attacks.
Monsignor William Koenig, the rector of St. Agnes Cathedral, spoke after Murray, saying, “We stop and remember all who have served, those who lost loved ones and the 2,977 souls who perished 10 years ago today.”
