Never Forgotten 23 Years Later
Twenty-three years later, 9/11 will never be forgotten. On Wednesday, September 11, crowds gathered at Tribute Park on Beach 116th Street for the annual ceremony to remember the horrific events that took place that day 23 years ago, and the many lives that were lost.
A color guard and a procession of FDNY bagpipers opened the ceremony as firefighters circled the covered central mosaic of the park. Members of the ceremonial unit of the FDNY unfolded a flag and raised it to half-mast as Chazmond Peacock sang the National Anthem.
Rabbi Rebecca Epstein of West End Temple led a prayer. Then the names of the more than 70 members of the community who were killed on 9/11 were read aloud by elected officials as a bell was tolled and family members, firefighters, civic leaders, members of Episcopal Health Services and members of the community placed red roses around the center mosaic in their memory.
Music duo Aerial Acoustics played instrumentals during the ceremony. Members of the FDNY were called to place roses on Firefighter Rock while members of the NYPD were called to place roses on the NYPD’s memorial bench, and 9/11 family members placed additional roses on the piece of steel from the World Trade Center.
This event was made possible with the generosity of Mathew Xenakis, Danielle’s Florist and the DeMatteis Family. For more information about Tribute Park and additional photos from the ceremony, see: www.rockawaytributepark.org
Photos by Katie McFadden.
