Residents from throughout the borough marked the eighth anniversary of September 11 during several events that recalled the horrors, sense of tragedy and triumphs that we all faced on that fateful day and the weeks that followed.
Despite the foul weather, dozens of residents flocked to the 69th Pier in Bay Ridge, Marine Park and Bedford Park in Sheepshead Bay to attend organized 9/11 events. The programs at Marine Park and the 69th Street Pier were hosted by State Senator Marty Golden.
In what is becoming a tradition, those in attendance prayed, held moments of silence, sung and listened to inspirational speeches as well as paid homage to the U.S. military by the 9/11 memorial spire on the pier.
The evening ended with a candle lighting ceremony, a 21-gun salute and the release of one batch of nine and one batch of 11 balloons to mark the civilians, police and firefighters killed when two jumbo jets piloted by terrorists rammed into the Twin Towers.
Those attending the Bedford Park memorial on Avenue X between East 24th Street and Bedford Avenue listened to stirring speeches as they read the names of 9/11 victims from a handball court that local artist “Rockin’” Ray Fiore turned into a memorial in the hours following the September 11 attack.
Firefighters from local engine and ladder companies attended the Sheepshead Bay event where they honored the memory of all of the first responders who perished while trying to evacuate the Twin Towers as the monolithic buildings came crumbling down.
While prayers and bowed heads were certainly the order of the day, some residents decided to express their anguish more creatively.
At a special 9/11 event at the Powerhouse Arena, 37 Main Street in DUMBO, residents read poems and performed songs they had written about 9/11 and how the city handled the tragedy head-on.
Earlier that morning the Grammy award winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus based on Pacific Street participated at the city’s annual 9-11 memorial event at Ground Zero. They opened the services with “The Star Spangled Banner” and closed the event with Mariah Carey’s “Hero,” attendees said.
