FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2014
MEDIA CONTACTS: Carole Trottere, Ryan Mulholland, Sam Marksheid, and Rebecca Cheng | (516) 869-7794
Town Joins with Community for Annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony
North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Clerk Wayne Wink, Supervisor Judi Bosworth, and the North Hempstead Town Board joined officials from the County and the State, as well as local veterans organizations, religious institutions and fire departments, to take part in the Town’s annual September 11 memorial service.
The ceremony marked the 13th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks which caused close to 3,000 innocent lives to be lost (56 of whom had lived in North Hempstead). The observance took place at Mary Jane Davies Green in Manhasset. On display was a 62-pound section of steel from the fallen Twin Towers, donated to the Town last year by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Town Clerk Wink, who performed the duties of master of ceremonies, offered moments of silence at 8:46 a.m. and 9:03 a.m., at the precise moments the attacks on each tower occurred.
“Our mission as a people, in this and countless other ceremonies throughout our nation, should be to ensure that today is not a day of despair, not a day of hopes discarded,” Town Clerk Wink said. “Instead, we gather here to remember our loved ones, our friends and neighbors, whose lives were senselessly taken on September 11, 2001, as well as those who came to the aid of so many on that day, only to suffer and perish in the days, months and even years since the attacks.”
Supervisor Bosworth, in her first September 11th ceremony as Supervisor, also addressed the attendees. “One of our responsibilities is to remember and honor each of those victims who lost their lives that day here in New York, in Washington D.C. and over the skies of Pennsylvania. We especially remember the 56 members of our close-knit community who never returned home that night; never stepped off the trains and into their cars; never came though their front doors to greet their families and who were never given a fighting chance. We must keep their memory and spirits alive in our thoughts, words and deeds each day.”
Each Town Councilperson read off the names of the residents from their respective district who perished on that fateful day.
Members of the Albertson Veterans of Foreign Wars presented the colors, fired the three-volley rifle salute, and performed Taps. Stirring musical performances were provided by and Lynette Carr-Hicks of Westbury who offered a beautiful rendition of “God Bless America and Kenyo Baly who sang “Proud to be an American”
Manhasset High School sophomore Corey McCluskey followed Rev. Charles Vogeley’s benediction with a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace” and “America the Beautiful.” Rabbi Anchelle Perl, representing Chabad of Mineola, gave the invocation. Rev. Dr. Steven D. Pierce of the Community Reformed Church of Manhasset and Muslim Chaplin Seemi Ahmed of Hofstra University also offered remarks during the ceremony.
Town Clerk Wayne Wink addresses the crowd.
Supervisor Bosworth addresses the crowd.
Corey McCluskey of Manhasset High School gives a stirring performance.
The Albertson VFW presents the colors.