The Village of Manorhave hosted it’s annual 9/11 Memorial and Ceremony outside of the Village Hall to remember those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks, honor the first responders who risked their lives and rededicate the 9/11 sapling tree.
Village Mayor John Popeleski, the board of trustees, local elected officials, the Port Washington Fire Department, the Port Washington Police Department, VFW Post 1819 members and residents gathered to remember those who died in 9/11.
Bagpiper Michael Tedeschi performed the opening hymn for the ceremony, followed by the pledge of allegiance and the singing of the National Anthem by the Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus. Sister Kathy Somerville performed the welcoming invocation.
This year, the 9/11 sapling tree was relocated from the Manorhaven Preserve to the village hall’s Memorial Garden, where a 100-pound beam from the World Trade Center also resides.
The Port Washington Fire Department gave the sapling to the village in 2017. At the time, a department member approached the Port Washington Fire Department Chief, Bryan Vogeley, about the Survivor Tree Program.
Survivor tree is a Callery pear tree that was severely damaged at Ground Zero, then nursed back to health and returned to Ground Zero. In conjunction with Bartlett Tree Service and the 9/11 Memorial Organization, seedlings from this pear tree have been offered to communities that were affected by this tragedy.
The Port Washington Fire Department received five pear tree seedlings. The saplings were planted at the Fireman’s Memorial at Nassau Knolls Cemetery, Atlantic Hook and Ladder Company, Protection Engine Company, Flower Hill Hose Company and Manorhaven Village Hall.
“Today, we rededicate this tree and place this plaque here so that everyone may be able to learn and understand the importance of this beautiful tree,” Kerin said. “We remember those who were lost and those who we continue to lose due to the effects of the rescue and recovery effort at Ground Zero.”
Kerin and Port Washington Police Chief Robert Del Muro read the names of those the Port Washington community lost in 9/11. We remember David Scott Agnes, 46; Antonio Jose Carrusca Rodrigues, 35; Timothy C. Kelly, 37; Frederic Kuo, 53; Justin McCarthy, 30; Bart Joseph Ruggieri, 32; Keiichiro Takahashi, 53; and Dinah Webster, 50.
North Hempstead Town Council Member Mariann Dalimonte added a name to the list of those from the Port Washington community who lost their lives in 9/11, a Manorhaven native who settled down in New Jersey with his family, John “Pepe” Salerno.
Leaders in the community and elected officials spoke at the event, including Rabbi Shalom Palitel of the Chabad of Port Washington, state Sen. Jack Martins, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Nassau County Minority Leader Delia De-Riggi Whitton, state Assembly Member Gina Sillitti, Dalimonte and Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips.
“Back on Sept. 11, we learned how to work together. We learned how to find the middle. We learned how to build consensus,” Martins said. “There were no issues with regard to gender, race, religion and sexuality. It was all about Americans being Americans and understanding the difference of what it meant to have core values. We still have those values.”
“To our first responders, every day we think of you, but today we realize how you are different from probably 90% of the population. You’re willing to sacrifice your own life and well-being to help others, and that is such an incredible attribute to have. We are in awe of you, we respect you, and we’re always here for you for anything we can do,” De-Riggi Whitton said. “And to our veterans, the same goes for you. To put your country first is truly amazing.”
