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East Rockaway remembers 9/11 victims

Solemn ceremony held in Memorial Park

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“Time alone cannot and will not soften our resolve to not only remember our departed loved ones, but to keep their memories alive,” said East Rockaway Mayor Francis Lenahan, as he welcomed the hundreds of residents to the 13th annual memorial tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy.

The ceremony, held in Memorial Park, featured a bagpipe march by Mac na hEireann Pipe Band and a presentation of colors followed by the national anthem, sung by entertainer and East Rockaway native Peter Rapanaro.

Trustee Theresa Gaffney read the names of the victims, and members of the Junior Fire Department, as well as family members of 9/11 victims Tim McSweeney, Patrick O’Keefe and Andrew Stern placed flowers on the markers.

“We come together to remember ...neighbors, relatives, friends that we lost,” said Town Councilman Anthony Santino. “To remember their lives, and how much we loved them … as long as we gather together each year, with love in our hearts … we will remember.”

Members of the clergy spoke words of consolation to the crowd.

“We pray that from the ashes of 9/11, we will continue to rise in the spirit of beauty and unity,” said

Father Charles Romano of St. Raymond’s Catholic Church.

Cantor David Sislen, of Hewlett East Rockaway Jewish Centre, pointed out that our wounds are still fresh, but “we can celebrate the triumph of the human spirit.”

In closing, Pastor Mark Lukens, of Bethany Congregational Church, said that the passing of years does not lessen the pain of the families, and asked God to “empower and enable us to live up to the heroes of 9/11.”