By John C. O'Connell and Nicole Falco
In District 30's Clear Stream Avenue School, outside Central High School, at the village's memorial in Hendrickson Park, in Holy Name of Mary Church and in dozens of other venues throughout the Valley Stream area, neighbors remembered the horror and heroism, the shock and the sacrifice of Sept. 11, 2001.
"On that fateful September morning two years ago," said Town Councilman James Darcy at solemn ceremonies last Thursday at the village's memorial park, "a hole was blown into the heart of America, a 16-acre hole that became known as ground zero."
Dozens of community members, including several family members of victims killed in the World Trade Center, listened as elected officials spoke and clergy called all to pray.
Speaking of "ordinary men and women performing extraordinary feats," Darcy said, "We witnessed the heartfelt grief and fathomless sorrow of the victims and their families. Focusing through our tears, we realized that their pain was our pain, their loss was our loss. This, indeed, was a tragedy, an American tragedy, a tragedy of the most monumental proportion."
Darcy said that people should be rededicated to "those qualities that have made our nation great. Let us use this date to celebrate our diversity, while at the same time recognizing the fact that we all stand together as Americans. Let us put aside our differences, throw away the labels by which we too often identify one another and cherish the humanity we all share. By doing so, we will truly honor the men and women we pay tribute to today."
Mayor Edward Cahill said that "This sad and sacred day ... is the anniversary of unspeakable horror and destruction, whose images of sadness, loss and tragedy are evermore seared into memory. Yet today is also the anniversary of extraordinary heroism, selflessness, hope and love. We are eternally joined by mourning and sorrow, but on this day we are also joined in resolve, inspired by strength, perseverance and compassion."
Cahill said that "What we say on this day ultimately will not matter, but what we do because of this day will forever be our legacy. In the memory of all the innocent victims who perished, keep your heart and mind open. Allow the needs of others to touch your heart. Only then, we as individuals, a community and a nation, may say that we have honored the memories of each and every hero of Sept. 11."
At Central High School
Flags were lowered to half-staff last Thursday, principals read, at 8:46 a.m., a common message of remembrance, and students and staff rose for a moment of silence, according to Dr. Marc Bernstein, interim superintendent of the high school district.
Many members of the community gathered in front of Central High School Thursday morning to commemorate the lives of the members of the Valley Stream schools and staff as well as alumni who were killed in the terrorist attacks.
To honor the 40 Valley Stream family members lost, Board of Education trustees Anthony Iadevaio, Dr. Frank Chiachiere and Bonnie Gorham recited their names to the accompaniment of a drum roll by Jeff Milner and chimes by Katie Rust, Central students. Another student, Daryl Yasay, sang "The Star-Spangled Banner."
"We re-dedicate ourselves today to remember the families of those who were lost," said the high school district Board of Education president, Anthony Iadevaio.
Iadevaio thanked the elected officials for attending and gave special thanks to the family members of those who perished that day. "Our Valley Stream community has come together on several occasions over the past two years to commemorate the lives of those lost on Sept. 11," he said. "Many of you were among the 1,600 community members who attended the beautiful memorial ceremony on Saturday, May 11, 2002, on the Village Green. Student artwork was exhibited, soothing dance, orchestral and choral works were performed by students from all four Valley Stream school districts, and Board of Education then-president Andy Walters read the names of those 40 members of our community who were lost, and a memorial plaque was unveiled.
"That plaque was dedicated in a ceremony here last Sept. 11, 2002," Iadevaio went on. "This past spring, North High School dedicated its courtyard to four North alumni who were lost on Sept. 11, and Central High dedicated a plaque in the main hall to its alumni."
Dr. Bernstein delivered the commemoration address to a solemn and respectful gathering at the district's Sept. 11 memorial outside Central High School.
"It is through our children that the promise of our nation and our dreams will be realized," he said. "The Valley Stream Central High School District believes and practices that, for our children to realize their dreams and the dreams of those individuals who perished on Sept. 11, 2001, they must be continually educated in the values of America and citizenship."
Bernstein said that "Today, we in Valley Stream join our fellow Americans, from sea to shining sea, in remembering those we lost and in rededicating ourselves to our mission as a people."
At Clear Stream
The Clear Stream Avenue School Parent Teacher Association donated a bench that bears the inscription, "In memory of 9/11/01." The PTA wanted to do something to acknowledge the victims, and decided to dedicate the bench on the second anniversary.
The entire school, Lawrence McGoldrick, superintendent of District 30 schools, administrators and board members gathered around the new memorial on Sept. 11 at 8:45 a.m. The ceremony began with a moment of silence before students led those gathered in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America."
The second anniversary was marked in each school in different ways. Some schools, such as the Forest Road School, simply shared a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. -- when the first tower was struck. At the William L. Buck School, an American flag bearing the names of those killed on Sept. 11 was flown at half-staff. The flag was a gift from Rosalie Rau, a classroom aide at the school. It now hangs outside the principal's office in the main hallway. At the James A. Dever School, the student color guard presented the flag during a morning ceremony. Students said the Pledge of Allegiance, shared a moment of silence and sang "America the Beautiful."
Before God
"Avoid the circle of anger," the Rev. Robert Kuznik told those gathered in Holy Name of Mary Church for the 12:15 p.m. Mass on Sept. 11. "There is hope that there is peace if even one of us chooses to break the circle of violence."
Kuznik chose to spread a message of forgiveness, hope and peace on the second anniversary of the nation's worst terrorist attack. Likewise, the Rev. Gregory Cappucino, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church, asked parishioners during the 9 a.m. Mass to "rededicate ourselves to the same kind of kindness, the same kind of goodness ... heroism and generosity ... the same kind as displayed on Sept. 11 by us."
On the anniversary, many Valley Stream residents chose to gather with their neighbors in a place of worship.
Mary Davis, Loretta Davis and Anne Raab attended the 9 a.m. Mass at Blessed Sacrament to remember their friend, Vita Marino, a Sandler O'Neil employee killed during the tragedy. The three women and Marino, who grew up in Valley Stream, met as teenagers attending Sacred Heart Academy. The women joined Marino's mother, Nina, for Mass and had plans to pay their respects at a monument erected in Marino's honor at St. Charles Cemetery.
"It was more difficult this year for me," said Mary Davis. "Last year I prepared myself mentally for the anniversary. This year it kind of snuck up on me."
For Nina Marino, her daughter's tragic death came just nine weeks after the death of her husband, Martin. A memorial garden has been dedicated on the grounds of Blessed Sacrament for Nina Marino's daughter and husband.
At Holy Name, it was standing-room-only during a Mass of Remembrance at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 11. Midway through, worshippers gathered outside the church to watch a tree-planting in memory of the victims. The evening Mass and tree-planting were the conclusion of a 24-hour period of prayer to mark the anniversary.
Ilene and Joe Scalise were at the 9 a.m. Mass at Holy Name Sept. 11 and also planned to attend the 7:30 p.m. Mass. "I still feel the same," Ilene said outside the church. "I feel sorry for the world. I pray for peace everyday."
Joe seemed to speak for many when he said, "I sat there [watching television] in awe. Then all of a sudden I saw the building crumble ... two years later that vision is still there. I see it vividly unfolding right now."
