East Meadow commemorates 9/11, 17 years later

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Candles lit up a foggy night at Veteran’s Memorial Park as members of the East Meadow community commemorated Sept. 11, 2001, 17 years after terrorist attacks shook the nation.

“Life was not the same after 9/11, but I truly believe it will continue and improve,” said Glenn Carpentier, of the East Meadow Fire Department, to the crowd of somber faces.

“We resolve to continue to do everything in our powers to protect this country that we love,” he continued. “Perhaps, most of all, we stay true to the spirit of this day for defending, not only our country, but also our ideas.” Carpentier urged the audience to spread love despite the hate that led terrorists to crash two planes into the World Trade Center 17 years ago.

After his speech, members of the fire department placed wreaths next to a 1,800-pound marble statue that was erected in the park by the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow during the Sept. 11, 2014 commemoration ceremony.

It statue, which contains a steel beam from the World Trade Center, reads “In the name of freedom/ To those who lost their lives/ September 11, 2001,” and bears seven names: Ann McGovern, Carlos Dominguez, Stephen Mark Fogel, Stephen LeMantia, Claude “Dan” Richards, Daniel Brethel, and Thomas Patrick DeAngelis.

The community also recognized Raymond Pfeifer, who died at the age of 59 last May after a battle with stage four cancer that resulted from exposing himself to the toxins from the collapsed buildings. He was a beloved New York Fire Department hero who tirelessly aided wounded victims at Ground Zero during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.