Town residents gather to remember September 11

Town of Hempstead residents commemorated the horrific attacks, tragic loss of life, and heroic acts of courage of September 11, 2001, at a Town memorial program at Point Lookout this morning.

This is the same location where crowds spontaneously gathered in the wake of the terrorist attacks, looking westward toward the rising smoke where the once majestic towers stood.

Starting at 7:30 a.m., Long Island's largest 9-11 ceremony featured a multi-faceted interactive program, which invited residents to participate in the moving memorial.

Residents were encouraged to write the names of victims and messages on a new 35-foot "Tribute to Our Heroes," a three-dimensional replica of the World Trade Center, rising above a city skyline mural.

There was the casting of carnations on a tribute fountain, placing of memorial flags at the monument, a dove release and a walk-over bridge that traverses a WTC beam. Speakers included a WTC survivor, a son of a 9-11 victim as well as reverend clergy. Music was performed by Kellenberg High School's Gregorian Consortium.