Where to remember 9/11 in Malverne, West Hempstead

When the September 11 terrorist attacks sent shockwaves through the nation 12 years ago, the people of the U.S. made a vow: never forget. It’s a vow that Malverne and West Hempstead take seriously. Next Wednesday, on the attacks’ anniversary, both communities are holding memorials for the loved ones they lost that day.

Both communities have a memorial with a recovered piece of the World Trade Center featuring the names of the neighbors’ lives lost in the attacks. Malverne lost four people. West Hempstead lost 11.

West Hempstead

The people of West Hempstead come out by the hundreds for the ceremony, hosted by the West Hempstead Community Support Association at Hall’s Pond, each year. The Lakeview and West Hempstead fire departments pay their respects — one of the people killed that day was a Lakeview firefighter. Elected officials and clergy from West Hempstead churches and synagogues speak, honoring the memory of the fallen. Each victim is honored individually — their name, their occupation, where they were when they died, and the loved ones they left behind are all spoken as a bell tolls for them, and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts lay a memorial flower and candle at the base of the memorial. 

“It’s important for the young people of the community who weren’t even alive at that point to know what the history is, and why this is at Hall’s Pond, and why there is a memorial,” said Maureen Greenberg-Mahoney, president of the WHCSA.

Malverne

The Malverne ceremony has taken place every year since 2002. Each of the 4 people who died were civilians in the towers. To this day, their families come to remember their loved ones.

“There are four-year-olds sitting on people’s laps,” said Jill Valli, Malverne Village Clerk, who organizes the event. “They’re sitting there every year, looking a year older every year. And the little ones who never even met their aunts and uncles, because that’s what these people are to them, all sitting on their moms’ and dads’ laps. Every year.”

The mayor of Malverne always speaks at the ceremony to welcome the hundreds of guests, but they keep it short — the point, Valli said, is to focus on those who lost their lives.

The family members of fallen victims each place a white rose at the monument. Babies who can’t even walk yet lay a flower for the family member they never got the chance to meet. Everyone who comes, sometimes as many as 300 people, light a candle to honor the fallen. It’s not because everyone there has a personal connection to the victims — it’s that everyone has a personal connection to Malverne, Valli said. It’s a tight-knit community that always shows up for each other. This year, a Malverne couple with no connection to the victims themselves even covered the cost of all the flowers — just because they wanted to help.

This year, Olivia Brown, a Malverne High School senior, will sing the national anthem with the Malverne High School choir. A violinist will also play at the ceremony.

The West Hempstead ceremony begins at 6:45 p.m. at Hall’s Pond. The Malverne ceremony begins at 8 p.m. at Gazebo Park.