21 years ago, on September 11, 2001, the worst tragedy happened in the United States. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center Towers (Twin Towers). Our country lost 2,977 people in those crashes.
That night our town came together to help the residents that came home that evening and those who lost a family member. Their actions included bringing water and food to the 2 train stations for those coming home.
After that day, several residents came together to make an organization to assist family members of those who died in the terrorist attacks. This organization, G.R.A.C.E. (Glen Rock Assistance Council and Endowment), designed a memorial to honor those lost; this memorial is located in Veterans’ Park. There is also a small memorial for those lost on PanAm flight 1033, the Buser family.
Those lost in the 9/11 attacks.
Paul Andrew Acquaviva
Grace Alegre-Cua
Sean Caton
Anthony Dionisio, Jr.
Brendan Dolan
Timothy J. Finnerty
Joseph Francis Holland III
Damian Meehan
David Robert Meyer
Richard Morgan
Daniel M. Van Laere
Since 2002, they have hosted a memorial service at 6:30 pm in veterans park at the 9/11 memorial. This memorial is very symbolic of the day and the twin towers.
Glen Rock High School Art teacher and department head Ms. Debbie Cella designed the memorial to honor the twin towers and the day’s tragedy. Some of these features include:
- The two towers of the stone stand 110 inches tall, and the radius of the circle made by the floor are 110 inches, both to remind us of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center buildings.
- The four rectangular granite blocks stand aligned with the four compass points to inspire us to never lose our way, even in dark times.
- The eleven names etched in the memorial’s stone remind us of those who did not return that day.
Very few towns were able to get a piece of the Twin Towers. Glen Rock was fortunate because a resident, George McFall Jr, wrote a letter on behalf of GRACE to Mayor Bloomberg asking for a piece of the WTC for our memorial. Bloomberg granted the request because of our high per-capital loss.
Mayor Kristine Morieko reflected and asked Why do we come back?
- “1. To ensure that those we lost that day are never forgotten. Their families deserve to be uplifted on the 21st anniversary of September 11, 2001.
- 2. To find meaning beyond the overwhelming loss of life.
- 3. To acknowledge the importance of what happened and how we are forever changed.
Mayor Morieko also reflected on how the next generation has grown up in a world changed by 9/11. She continued, “ It is our duty to teach them the lessons we learned. Teach them about the people who were there. And show them, by example, that vulnerability is cured by CONNECTING to one another.”
Rev. Dominick Lenoci from St Catherines talked about his memories of 9/11. He mentioned, how while visiting the Vatican a month later after 9/11 during a pilgrimage, Saint Pope John II acknowledged each county and asked them to say or sing something that represented their country. The United States group started to sing God Bless America and everyone in the Vatican began to sing along with the United States.
This year’s ceremony included music by the GRHS choir led by Music Teacher Carl Helder.
G.R.A.C.E trustees:
Diane Hirschberg, Pam Wollack, Joanne Perry, Carol Knapp, Lenora Benjamin, and Jon Cole.
