By Linda Delmonico-Prussen
8:30 a.m., at the Merrick train station gazebo: Under a bright sunny sky, in the heart of Merrick's business district, the Chamber of Commerce held a memorial service, eerily at around the same time that terrorists had slammed two jet airplanes into the Twin Towers exactly a year before.
Julie Marchesella, chamber president, introduced Vincent Gabrielle, commander of Merrick American Legion Post 1282, who led the more than 150 attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Marchesella then spoke. She called Sept. 11, 2002 "a day of remembrance, a day etched in every American's memory." She recalled the days after Sept. 11 when Americans, specifically Merokeans, were kinder, more courteous toward one another. In keeping with that spirit, she asked that, instead of a moment a silence, people in attendance turn and offer a smile to one another.
Rabbi Maurice Simckes of Temple Israel of South Merrick blew the shofar horn, which is sounded during the Jewish High Holidays at this time of year. He also spoke briefly of its use as an alarm during ancient times and today, specifically on Sept. 11, to call people together.
Bernard Stein of the Merrick Kiwanis Club followed in the service.
"When I think back to the events of Sept. 11, there is a profound sense of sadness," he said. "Those unhappy thoughts are tempered by other memories." He spoke of a community united through supply drives and fund-raising efforts such as the Community of Caring. "While others look back and see the tragedy, I look back and see the hope," said Stein.
Pastor James Manion of Cure of Ars Roman Catholic Church read a poem by Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh. An excerpt from the poem reads, "We are not alone in our loneliness. Others have been here and have known."
Rev. Perry Kirschbaum of St. John's Lutheran Church said, "A solemn beginning of the day, but we still see the sunrise upon us," adding, "We should never forget the unity we share with one another."
The Merrick Garden Club donated two trees representing the Twin Towers. Connie Purick, of the club, read a poem as the trees were dedicated to the victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy.
Wreaths were placed beside the trees by chamber board members Kathleen Meyer and Ilene Dixel at the very moment, one-year prior, that the first plane hit Tower One.
Additionally, the Merrick Chorale Society lent the gift of song to the event.
Attending the memorial were numerous dignitaries, including New York State Sen. Charles Fuschillo and Nassau County Legislators David
Denenberg and Norma Gonsalves. Also attending, among others, were Merrick Fire Department volunteers, members of the Jewish War Veterans and the Jewish War Veterans Ladies Auxiliary, including auxiliary President Susan Helsinger.
Jill Pall, of Merrick, who chose to attend a memorial in Merrick rather than the city, said, "I felt safer in my own community. The
city would be so overwhelming."
Donna Ruggiero said, "I've lived in Merrick all my life. I've been
involved with the fire department since 13." She, too, attended the chamber memorial because it was "closer to home."
Al Belbol Jr., director of Parish Community Outreach at Cure of Ars, said, "I wanted to be right here in the community. It's who we are."
Noon, at the War Memorial on Whaleneck Road: What started out as breezy turned gusty as the winds kicked up and Commander Gabrielle began American Legion Post 1282's Sept. 11 memorial service last Wednesday.
Again, many local elected leaders attended, including Sen. Fuschillo, Legislators Denenberg and Gonsalves, Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell and Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes.
Gabrille spoke without a microphone and from the heart, as he offered a tribute to those who lost their lives in the military service and those serving the country now.
The service then moved to a recently-dedicated, stone Sept. 11 memorial, provided by Eagle Scout Dan Pfeifer and located only a few yards south of the War Memorial.
The brief event was both spiritual and dignified and ended with a stirring rendition of "God Bless America," sung by all.
Fuschillo, who was attending his fifth service of the day, said of the terrorists during an interview: "They set out to break us, but in fact, they made this country stronger than ever," adding, "We can only hope and pray for the victims and their families."
Denenberg said, "Sept. 11 might be a day to remember, but it is not a defining moment. No one's life should be defined by being a victim. People's lives should be defined by how they lived, not how they died. Each victim has a biography."
1:45 p.m., at the Harold D. Fayette Elementary School Greenhouse: The wind continued to gust as North Merrick Schools Superintendent David Feller opened a dedication ceremony for the Fayette Elementary School Sept. 11 greenhouse. The hundreds of children who gathered for the event looked like a sea of red, white and blue as they sat stretched across the athletic field behind the school.
North Merrick School Board Trustee Norbert Billig spoke, commending principal Bert Honigman on the "meaningful project," which he said was in keeping with the spirit of the day.
Principal Honigman thanked Sen. Fuschillo for securing funding to build the greenhouse. Honigman called the Sept. 11 attacks "the worst single tragedy to ever occur in the United States of America." He explained the significance of the greenhouse as a sign of hope. "Within every seed," he said, "is the potential for new life."
Fayette band members played a set of songs, and the chorus sang. The children then formed a human circle around the greenhouse. A ceremonial ribbon was cut, and each class had an opportunity to visit the greenhouse, where they will all work on various projects throughout the year.
Fifth-grader Kaci Capriello said, "My dad was a policeman, two feet away from the tower when it was hit." Capriello said her father returned home on the evening of Sept. 11 covered in soot. She also said that the wind this past Wednesday almost sounded "like the towers collapsing."
Bianca Kaltenbach said, "I feel really proud that they're doing this
on this particular day. You don't know what can happen or when it's going to happen."
Gabriella Long said America should remember Sept. 11 every year.
Elif Humet, for whom the towers held a special meaning, said, "I felt
sorry the Twin Towers fell because I'm a twin."
Sophia Alfky spoke of feeling mixed emotions and said the Fayette memorial was very special for the people who died.
Alexandra Acquavito said simply, "We hope another tragedy doesn't happen."
9 p.m., North Merrick: Despite the strong winds that during the day threatened to blow out the North Merrick Community Association candlelight vigil, the event was a success.
Lisa Schnars, the driving force behind the vigil, said, "It was so
beautiful on my block." Though winds had been blowing strong all day,
residents had faith, and in strange twist of faith, things worked out even better than hoped for. Schnars said, "By nine o'clock, the wind died down, and at ten to nine the lights went out." The neighbors jokingly accused Schnars of planning the outage. "For 12 hours, we were without electricity." The only lights on Schnars' block, Earle Drive, were the candles. "It was awesome," Schnars said.
While Schnars declined to comment at this time, about the amount
raised she did say in about two weeks 14 families will benefit from the
funds raised by sale of candles. The beneficiaries will be either the parents or spouses of victims and can be used however the family deems appropriate.
Schnars wanted to thank, not only all the residents who participated in the vigil, but also the corporate office of Waldbaums, in College Point Queens, for donating the bags and candles, Empire Candles of Kansas City, Kansas for also donating candles and Home Depot of Freeport for donating the sand. Schnars sent out letters to various companies and because of the donations all of the money raised can now go directly to the families.
She also wanted to thank her family. "My kids were like little elves,"
she said. She appreciated all the help that husband Bill, sons Bobby and Billy and daughters Nicole and Julie offered, explaining, "I don't use the
computer, so I had to depend on my family to do all the computer work."
