Thursday, October 1, 2026
Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the Merrick community gathered Friday evening to remember two of its own and reflect on the lives forever changed that day.
A large American flag hung above the 9/11 memorial at Merrick Avenue and Sunrise Highway as firefighters, community members and local officials gathered for the annual ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 11.
A steel girder from one of the Twin Towers stands at the memorial site, serving as a lasting reminder of the tragedy and honoring former Merrick Fire Department Chief Ronnie Gies and former Captain Bryan Sweeney, who both lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
As the American flag hung over the gathering, the Merrick community once again came together to honor their service and ensure their names and stories are not forgotten.
For Merrick Fire Department Second Assistant Chief Robert Gies, the ceremony carried a deeply personal meaning as he honored his father.
Gies thanked the Merrick Fire Department for standing by his mother and family throughout the past 25 years and for giving him and his brother the opportunity to follow in their father’s footsteps.
He also thanked the Merrick community for continuing to return to the memorial each year.
“For 25 years, this crowd has grown every single year,” Gies said. “We have never forgot.”
Gies said that as the years have passed, families have grown, with children and grandchildren now learning about the two names engraved on the memorial and the importance of that day.
Wreaths were laid in memory of Gies and Sweeney.
Nassau County Legislator Michael Giangregorio also addressed the crowd, remembering the firefighters, police officers and civilians who lost their lives on Sept. 11, as well as those who continue to suffer from 9/11-related illnesses.
Giangregorio emphasized the importance of teaching future generations about the attacks, noting that many Americans today were not yet born when they occurred.
“We will never forget what happened 25 years ago,” Giangregorio said. “We must teach it.”
The ceremony included an invocation by the Rev. Joseph Schlafer, Curé of Ars Parish in Merrick, who reflected on the compassion and generosity that bring communities together during difficult moments.
Merrick Fire Department Captain Cecil Wilson read the inscription on the memorial. Carina Onesto performed the national anthem during the ceremony and later sang “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan.
For Gies and the families of those remembered, the 25th anniversary was more than a milestone — it was another year of carrying forward the memories of those who never came home.
