No. Brunswick to hold 9/11 memorial event
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

"The more people you have, it shows the strength of our citizens as a whole and that we're never going to forget what happened, and we're not going to let terrorists change the way we live." - Bob Davis

NORTH BRUNSWICK - The September 11 Committee will hold a candlelight ceremony on Monday to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks.

Honored by the Celebrate North Brunswick Committee at Tuesday's Township Council meeting for their commitment and dedication to honoring the lives lost on that fateful day in 2001, the September 11 Committee members have worked tirelessly over the past five years to secure monetary donations to establish a memorial site on Hermann Road across from the municipal building.

"The more people you have, it shows the strength of our citizens as a whole and that we're never going to forget what happened, and we're not going to let terrorists change the way we live," committee member and council President Bob Davis said.

The memorial features steel from the Trade Center and two tablets that include the names of all of the nearly 3,000 people who died in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

"The reason we continue to do this is because it is probably the worst event that has ever happened to American people on our shores. It's important for people to remember everyone who lost their lives that day. It's important for children to know what went on. It's important for people to recognize the bravery of the police, fire, rescue squads, first aid, just everybody involved that day, and the people who lost their lives trying to save lives in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and of course the heroic acts of the passengers on Flight 93, to know that if they didn't do something that this plane was headed for D.C. and probably the White House. They gave up their lives to save a number of other people that would have been killed if the plane reached its destination," Davis said.

The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. with a candle-lighting, bagpiper and honor guard. The Linwood Middle School Student Council and Davis will read two poems. There will be performances by the North Brunswick Township High School choral group and band, the Family Worship Center and Glen Burtnick. Five clergy members will share their remarks, and wreaths will be placed at the memorial.

The first 200 people will receive T-shirts designed by Punam Patel in a contest held this year by the committee to display the theme "Remember. Reflect. Recover." Various dignitaries will be in attendance, and New York City firemen are expected to be there as well. Hermann Road will be closed at 6:30 p.m. In case of rain, the ceremony will be held indoors in the court room of 710 Hermann Road.

The committee members are: Lou Ann Benson, Ann Coscione, Carmen Crea, Bob Davis, Dan and Ann DiStefano, Dawn Holubiak, Carol Ann LaBarbera, Kenneth McCormick, Mark McGrath and Roni Salkin.

Donations for the upkeep and future improvements to the memorial can be sent to Lou Ann Benson, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services, 710 Hermann Road, North Brunswick 08902. Checks can be made payable to North Brunswick Township. The flagpole was donated by the North Brunswick Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 160, and lighting was donated by Cioffi Electric.

For more information, contact Benson at (732) 247-0922, ext. 475, or LBenson@northbrunswickonline.com.