By Liz McBreen
In June, the United Clergy met and started putting together a program to honor the victims of last year, according to Rabbi Stephen Dresner of the Franklin Square Jewish Center.
"Our community was touched in many ways on Sept. 11," said Fr. Thomas Groenewold, Pastor of St. Catherine's. "We lost seven people from Franklin Square, and many others went to Ground Zero to help in the rescue and clean up effort."
Firefighter and Franklin Square resident Michael Wood spoke during the tribute about his time in 'the pit'. "I think the hardest part was admitting that it had to become a recovery effort instead of a rescue mission."
Recalling the mass destruction at Ground Zero, the firefighter explained that no one, regardless of how years he or she had been on the job, were ready for what they were going to witness. In spite of the difficult nature of the recovery effort, Wood feels honored to have been a part of it. "It was a great privilege for me to be able to help out, and give families closure. A good day at Ground Zero was finding someone and being able to send them home."
He applauded the new wave of patriotism that has occurred since last year, saying, "what happened on Sept. 11 has changed my outlook on this country and what it stands for. I had never seen so many people come together that way before. We were Americans. We needed to comfort each other and we needed God. There was no separation of church and state at Ground Zero."
Wood also urged those in the audience to not only remember those who were lost, but the family and friends who have to go on without them, as well as the soldiers oversees who continue to fight the war on terrorism.
Edward Evans, the father of Robert Evans, one of the 343 New York City Firefighters who were lost, also addressed the crowd. "The loss of a child is one you never get over." He went to express his gratitude to Franklin Square residents, "I am amazed at the number of people in the audience, and I thank you for making the effort to come here. This is the kind of spirit that keeps America going."
Members of choirs from various parishes in Franklin Square led the crowd in song, and girls from the St. Catherine Youth Community sang "We Will Never Forget You", a song written by Thurston Daniel in honor of those lost during the attacks. According to Nick Atilio, director of the youth group, the song was recently recorded on CD and all of the proceeds will be going to a 9/11 relief fund.
Before the Sept. 11 monument was unveiled, teamsters from Union 282 brought the flag that had flown at Ground Zero, bearing signatures of rescue workers, to the gazebo. The flag was draped over a memorial of pictures, badges and stories commemorating the events of Sept. 11, that had been put together for the dedication ceremony.
Members of the Franklin Square Munson Fire Department stood at attention as the monument was dedicated with a prayer. It bears a picture of the Twin Towers, and reads 'We will never forget.'
"This tribute was a good way to end a very sad day, and the monument is a beautiful memorial to the heroes of this town," said resident Susan Daniels.
Dresner explained that the United Clergy of Franklin Square was formed last year and includes all religious houses of worship in Franklin Square. Dresner chose the name for the group, and said that it was formed around the time of Sept. 11 last year. Frank Cutolo, a Franklin Square resident, had made a suggestion that the community's pastors and rabbis come together to form a new group that would encompass members of all congregations in Franklin Square.
"The members of the United Clergy made suggestions about what they would like to see during the tribute, and together we came up with the program for the ceremony," said Dresner.
