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Colton: Never forget 9-11

By Christie Rizk
The Brooklyn Paper

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A local lawmaker is so worried that New Yorkers will forget what happened on 9-11 that he wants New Yorkers to remember 9-11 on 9-11 with a holiday named after 9-11.

Assemblyman William Colton (D–Gravesend) is introducing a bill to make Sept. 11 a New York State holiday called, appropriately enough, “9-11 Remembrance Day.”

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He hopes the legislation will encourage schools to hold 9-11 commemoration ceremonies every year on 9-11.

Naming the holiday, however, seems to be the extent of Colton’s power to ensure that future generations mark 9-11 on 9-11. The legislature can’t require specific activities to mark the day or even grant time off from work or school.

But Colton will not be deterred, fearing that Sept. 11 will go the way of Dec. 7 (Pearl Harbor), Aug. 14 (V-J Day) and Sept. 19 (the Garfield assassination).

But some constituents think his symbol gesture is useless.

“What’s the point?” said Brooklynite Vera Kachnowski. “I don’t think we’re in any danger of forgetting about 9-11, so there’s really no need for a holiday.”

Colton said he came up with the idea after his wife, who was working across the street from the World Trade Center when they were destroyed, told him that future generations should never be allowed to forget what happened.

“It would be a tragedy to forget 9-11,” said Colton.

Especially on 9-11.

©2006 Community Newspaper Group

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