Overlooking both The Rising memorial and the newly unveiled Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial, Westchester County Executive George Latimer joined the county on Sept. 11, 2021, in mourning those lost due to the terrorist attack that day 20 years ago.
“Each year, this day is day of reflection for those who lived through it and a day to provide comfort to those who lost so much,” Latimer said. “Now, twenty years later, this day must also serve as a lesson to those too young to remember. I hope this ceremony can both provide comfort and a reminder to all what occurred on that seemingly normal September morning on which the world was changed forever.”
The county’s ceremony, emceed by ABC7 Journalist Marcus Solis, marking the 20th anniversary of 9/11, once again hosted at the Kensico Dam Plaza was a service filled with powerful remarks, moving prayers by Rev. Erwin Lee Trollinger, Imam Shaffieq Chace and Rabbi Howard Goldsmith, comforting music provided by SUNY Purchase, sadness, but also, hope.
“As a reporter who covered the attacks on 9/11, the 20th anniversary has special meaning,” Solis said. “I am truly honored to be taking part in the ceremony in Westchester where I live, and where so many families were impacted.”
The ceremony opened with a procession of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety Ceremonial Unit Color Guard, the Pipes and Drums of the
Police Emerald Society of Westchester County and representatives from the NYPD and FDNY. This moving tribute was followed by a rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” performed by New York Presbyterian Lawrence ICU nurse and Mount Vernon resident Carlo Jose “CJ” Zenarosa.
The solemn occasion was then marked by the laying of a wreath by Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, Department of Emergency Services Commissioner
Richard Wishnie and Lisabeta Vukaj—sister of Simon Marash Dedvukaj who was killed in the north tower—a member of the Westchester County Department
of Safety Police Honor Guard. The day prior to the ceremony, Sept. 10, Latimer was joined by family members of those fallen for a private unveiling of the
newly furnished Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial. This new monument, placed next The Rising at Kensico Dam Plaza, was designed by a
committee made up of loved ones of those lost.
“Twenty years after our first responders rushed to the disaster areas that were created in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, these selfless, courageous, brave and humble men and women continue to make the ultimate sacrifice from 9/11 related illnesses,” said Matthew J. McCauley, an officer with the NYPD and committee co-chair.
“First responders from eleven different agencies, including six from the City of Yonkers Fire & Police Departments and four
from the City of White Plains Fire Department are among the initial 41 names engraved on the memorial being unveiled today adjacent to “The Rising.” We
applaud Westchester County Executive George Latimer for recognizing that a memorial in the honor of those 9/11 first responders that resided and/or worked
or volunteered for Westchester County Agencies and who lost their lives to 9/11 related illnesses was long overdue. Unfortunately, we expect the number of names here to at least double in size by next year once we capture all that have been lost who are associated with Westchester County.”
The committee, and Westchester County, tragically lost cochair Peter Woods to a 9/11-related illness earlier this year. Following the public unveiling of the new memorial, an Eternal Light was lit. A light that will shine 24/7 over the memorial as a testament to the light shone over this county by the heroes this monument is dedicated to. The ceremony continued on with the reading of the names of those Westchester residents killed on 9/11 and those Westchester residents who have died from 9/11-related illnesses by Westchester County legislators, District Attorney Miriam Rocah, County Clerk Tim Idoni and family
members of those lost.
The tribute concluded with a moment of silence, flyover by county police and a performance of taps by Mount Pleasant Police Officer Peter Blume. (Submitted)
