By Nick Buglione
Photo #33212D: Residents pledge allegiance to the flag at the Sept. 11 memorial service in East Meadow.
Photo #33212b: Scores of flames light up the crowd at the evening vigil.
Hundreds of East Meadow residents gathered at the firehouse just south of Front Street on East Meadow Avenue to take part in a moving candlelight ceremony marking the somber anniversary of the attacks that claimed thousands of lives, including three locals.
"Today was an unusually windy day," Rabbi Ronald Androphy, of the East Meadow Jewish Center, said to those present. "I couldn't help but think that this unusually windy day reflected the souls and spirits of the 3,000 people who lost their lives."
With the wind swirling and the sun quickly setting, the usually busy thoroughfare came to a standstill, as people crowded the sidewalk in front of the firehouse and spilled out into the street.
Many came for patriotic reasons.
"I think it's important for people to come out and support their country and show support for their firefighters and develop a sense of community that perhaps has been vacant in our country," said John Murphy, who has lived in East Meadow for 11 years.
Others came to mourn.
"My son is a New York City fireman, and he lost five of his brothers on Sept. 11," said 40-year resident Ann Stever.
They all came to remember. The ceremony, organized by the East Meadow Fire Department, Council of East Meadow Community Organizations, the Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis, underscored the neighborhood's cohesiveness.
"Things like this help not only to heal, but they give us hope and make our young people realize that there is a future," Nassau County Legis. Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) said. "Being part of a large family like the East Meadow family gives the children a sense of security."
After the presentation of the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance, master of ceremonies Richard Bivone, vice president of CEMCO, offered uplifting words.
"We look back on a year of events after Sept. 11, 2001 and also look toward the future for the unknown," he said. "One thing is for certain, we are here because of a philosophy that this country was born and built on freedom. This is the true spirit of America."
During the ensuing moment of silence, the East Meadow Fire Department tolled its bell 20 times, pausing briefly after each fifth ring, in memory of those that died in the terrorist attacks.
The East Meadow Fire Department, which sent trucks and men to ground zero to participate in rescue efforts last year, also presented a brief video montage of footage from the World Trade Center disaster. The message of the video and the text that ran under each image was simple: seize the day.
"The disaster definitely hit home," said Anthony Paolicelli, chief of the East Meadow Fire Department. "The sheer loss of life was huge."
Just before the candle-lighting portion of the ceremony, Jody Targove and some of his students from McVey Elementary School performed an original composition, a song entitled "Colors," written to enhance solidarity in the wake of the tragedy.
Scores of individual flames illuminated the crowd on the darkened street, as the ceremony drew to a close.
"I see on my block people displaying flags, people talking about unity in the country and certainly everyone remembers what went on last year," said Joel Ratner, eight-year resident of East Meadow. "It's not something anyone will easily forget."
