Politics & Government

Orangetown Remembers Sept. 11 Attacks

Volunteers used ladder trucks from Pearl River Hook and Ladder and the Orangeburg Fire Department to raise a massive United States flag above Dutch Hill Road in Orangeburg.

The flag hung behind the crowd gathered for Orangetown's September 11 memorial service Wednesday on the lawn by Orangetown Town Hall, marking the 12th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in 2001.

Orangetown Supervisor Andy Stewart opened the ceremony by speaking of the impact of the national tragedy on Orangetown.

"The attacks of September 11 hit Orangetown especially hard," Stewart said. "By the time the dust had settled at ground zero, there is probably no one in town who did not at least know a friend or colleague or neighbor who had lost a loved one. Today, we cherish the memories of those who lost their lives in this brutal attack. As long as Orangetown residents continue gathering here, at this memorial, year after year, the lessons of 9/11 will not fade and the lives of those who perished will continue to be remembered."


Helping to bring that point home, a mixture of local religious leaders and emergency reponders read the names of the September 11 victims from Rockland County. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Reverand George Torok, Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church Reverend Laura Cunningham, Beth Am Temple Rabbi Daniel Pernick, Piermont Fire Chief William Cavanaugh, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Reverend John Havrilla and South Orangetown Ambulance Corps Deputy Chief Steven Harris each took a turn saying reading names of those lost. 


The Pearl River High School Glee Club sang Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America, with the crowd loudly joining in with the latter. 

As he had earlier in the day during a Sept. 11 memorial service at Rockland Community College, Rockland County Poet Laureate Dan Masterson of Pearl River read his poem Out of the Blue. The poem, which he wrote last year, gives the perspective of a former combat pilot as he makes his way to work in the Twin Towers through the moment he sees the second airplane coming directly at his window. A copy of the poem is attached to this report.


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