Hundreds pay tribute to Sept. 11 victims

Mayor Ed Fare helped Bob Blakeman place a carnation at the village’s Sept. 11 monument. Blakeman is the grandfather of Thomas Jurgens who died at the World Trade Center.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Mary Breuer stood near a bench dedicated to her friend, Robert Caufield, as Stephen Zawislak played taps.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Veterans from American Legion Post 854 and VFW Post 1790 provided a color guard at Valley Stream’s Sept. 11 memorial ceremony.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Junior firefighters, including Mike Irizarry, left, and Capt. Richie Field, placed memorial wreaths at the monument in Hendrickson Park.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Valley Stream firefighters paid tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks 12 years ago.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Mourners placed carnations on the monument at Hendrickson Park.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Family and friends of the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 were joined by hundreds of Valley Stream firefighters, scouts, elected officials, community leaders and citizens to remember the tragic events that took place 12 years ago.

Gathering at the village’s monument at Hendrickson Park, which includes a piece of steel recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, participants reflected on the horrific attacks and paid tribute to all those who died, as well as those who stepped into action to help others.

For the first time, the village held its ceremony in the evening, instead of the morning, to allow people to attend services in both New York City and Valley Stream. Joan York, whose husband, Raymond, died on Sept. 11, appreciated the change. “This was the first year I could do both,” she said, “which is great because this is my town.”

In the past, York would alternate between the Valley Stream ceremony and a service at the firehouse where her husband worked, Engine Company No. 285 in Ozone Park, Queens.

Mary Breuer, who was friends with Valley Stream resident Robert Caufield, who died in the North Tower, watched the ceremony from a nearby park bench dedicated in Caufield’s honor. Wearing an shirt with an American flag on it, Breuer said Sept. 11 is a day in which citizens should remember to be a little bit nicer to each other.

This was the second year the ceremony was held at the monument, which was constructed last summer. It features tributes to the victims at the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and aboard United Flight 93 which crashed in Shanksville, Pa. The Valley Stream Junior Fire Department spent this past summer raising money for a plaque to explain the significance of the monument.

Junior firefighters placed three wreathes at the memorial, symbolizing the village, the firefighters and the families of victims. Residents were able to place red carnations on the two brick pillars at the monument, which are designed to resemble the Twin Towers.