In an effort to help raise funds for the Farmingdale Community Summit Council, which is erecting the "Farmingdale Remembers Its Communities' Heroes" monument on the grounds of the Farmingdale Public Library to honor all local heroes connected to the September 11 tragedy, residents from all over the community have been purchasing World Trade Center commemorative pieces, equipped with a candle holder, from a local resident. Mary Ellen Hribok, who was looking for a way to help the Summit Council in their efforts to raise the necessary funds to build and install the monument, noticed a metal World Trade Center commemorative candle holder/figure and called the company who distributes the pieces. Much to her surprise, Hribok learned that the company, which she found out was F&M Precise Metals, was located in Farmingdale.

Soon after, Hribok met with Frank and Mark Pirnat, second-generation owners of F&M Precise Metals, who at first didn't want to sell the pieces as they were giving them out as a gift for each of their customers. The brothers explained that they declined to sell the WTC Candlelight Commemorative because they felt that it would seem like they were trying to take advantage of other people's terrible loss. Hribok told them about the monument to be built in Farmingdale and told them that the Summit Council was continuing to look for the necessary funds to complete the project and asked if they would help support the project by selling the items and donating some of the proceeds toward the monument. The brothers agreed, since the pieces would be sold for a good cause right in the community in which their company is located and Hribok left with dozens of the pieces, prepared to sell them to friends and family members.

Over the course of the next several months, through word of mouth only and no advertising, Hribok had an overwhelming response from friends, Girl Scouts members, leaders and parents, St. Luke's parishioners and the LaSalle community, among others, who showed an interest in purchasing the pieces.

"People just love them," she said, noting that everywhere she goes she seems to receive requests for more of the pieces.

On September 11, during the Summit Council's memorial site dedication ceremony at the Farmingdale Library, Hribok presented checks on behalf of St. Luke's Lutheran Church (whose members were very generous in their purchases and whose funds were matched by the church itself), LaSalle Regional School, the Junior League of the Women's Club of Farmingdale and the Hardscrabble Girl Scouts Association of Farmingdale (Hribok is associated with all four organizations) to the Council totaling over $800. She also presented one WTC Candlelight Commemorative to the Council and one to the library.

To date, Hribok has presented the Summit Council with checks totaling over $1,100 and is continuing to receive orders for the pieces. She noted that some people who approached her about the pieces didn't want to keep them as they triggered too many dark emotions but still donated the price the piece would cost to the cause. She also noted that after matching donations made by St. Luke's parishioners, the church was set to present a check for $220 to Hribok to give to the Summit Council and a parishioner anonymously donated an extra $80 to round off the number.

"This community is so wonderful," Hribok said. "I see so many people, maybe because I'm all over the place and I'm so lucky to have such nice friends and neighbors."

Hribok is not receiving any monetary compensation for her efforts, she said she took on this project just as she has other projects in the past, because she enjoys them.

"I just do this because I love it," she said. "I just want to help people. I enjoy doing these things. I'm just glad that it's working out so well."

Hribok noted that Frank and Mark Pirnat are two of the nicest people she's ever met, adding that designing these commemorative pieces is something they do aside from their regular full-time jobs.

"They are so nice," she said about the brothers. "I'm just happy that they were able to design these pieces and were willing to work with me, they've brought happiness to many people."

Like everyone, Frank and Mark Pirnat were deeply moved by the events of September 11, 2001. Soon after the tragedy, the brothers were in their sheet metal fabricating shop and created a private tribute in honor of the victims of the events. Handcrafted from anodized aluminum, the pieces depict the downtown Manhattan skyline prior to the attacks. The brothers designed the pieces with a section for a tea light or votive candle to allow for the WTC Candlelight Commemorative to glow like a moonlit city night. The brothers said that they have been overwhelmed by the great interest in their tribute and have had thousands of requests for them, despite the fact that they did no advertising. Requests, generating only by word of mouth, have come in from all over the globe, from Long Island to Switzerland.

"This item was originally intended to be our own little company tribute to the tragedy, but people seem to have found an emotional connection to the tragedy through our creation," said Frank Pirnat. "We are humbled by the response."

Residents interested in purchasing the WTC Candlelight Commemorative, available in two sizes, or donating money toward the monument, may visit the Farmingdale Public Library front desk for more information.