Tribute to families and their lost loved ones

To honor the local residents who died on Sept. 11 and commemorate the 10th anniversary of that tragic day, the Village of Cedarhurst, the Lawrence School District and Five Towns Community Chest under Five Towns-One Community are presenting a 90-minute memorial program to be held on Sunday, Sept. 11 in Andrew J. Parise Cedarhurst Park beginning at 4 p.m.

The major portion of the program will feature music by the Lawrence Philharmonic Orchestra, a group comprised of students and community members that number between 40 to 60 musicians, according to its newest leader Lonnie Ginsberg. Five Towns-One Community is a partnership between Lawrence schools and Community Chest to bring many local organizations together to improve relations throughout the Five Towns.

Ginsberg, a Lawrence graduate, who now teaches music in the district, said the majority of the music the orchestra will perform during the memorial program will be from John Phillip Sousa, George Gershwin and a selection of Broadway medleys.

“As a high school student who played in the Lawrence Philharmonic and now is director of the orchestra, it is a privilege to continue working with this great community,” Ginsberg said. “I am honored to be able to lead the Lawrence Philharmonic for the tenth anniversary Sept. 11 tribute concert.”

In addition to the music, the program will feature remarks from Cedarhurst Mayor Andrew J. Parise. The World War II veteran said that the importance of such events is about not forgetting to remember the people that died that day and the emergency responders who answered the call of duty.

“The whole thing is remembering that it happened, to tell generations to come to remember those that gave their lives and to never forget that day,” said Parise, who added, that if anything good did come of that day it, “brought the nation together to think of what could happen.”

Parise will make some remarks and so will Bob Block, director of Community Chest, who noted that State Senator Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) is expected to make a presentation and Bruce Blakeman will speak on behalf of the local families who lost loved ones.

It is difficult for Block to see anything good coming out of the Sept. 11 tragedy, considering that so many people died that day, but he thinks that people are more aware of their surroundings and are more united as a nation.

“The notion that we as a people will not forget that tragic day, the way Americans come together is second to none to any nation in the world,” Block said. “Our ability to rally together is the only good thing that came out of it.”

Lawrence Superintendent Gary Schall will be introduced by Assistant Superintendent for Student and Community Affairs Patrick Pizzarelli, who thinks it is important that we don’t forget the emotions we had that day and we should honor the families and memories of those lost on Sept. 11.

“I believe the biggest lesson we learned was not to be so complacent and for our nation to be always be on guard,” Pizzarelli said. “Also to be thankful for the many men and women who serve in our armed forces or work for the fire department and police department.”