When the obituaries for those who perished on September 11 were printed, members of the LI Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation (LIMLF) observed that many of the victims were lacrosse players or coaches in the metropolitan New York area.

On Sept. 9, the LIMLF dedicated a LI 9/11 Lacrosse Memorial on the campus of Farmingdale State University of New York. The memorial, constructed outside the Nold Hall Athletic Facility, honors the lives of twenty-nine lacrosse players.

Farmingdale State President Dr. Jonathan Gibralter provided a welcome to the families and friends of the honorees. Numerous lacrosse notables were on hand for the dedication, including Richie Moran and Harvey Cohen.

The memorial consists of an 8 x 6 foot stone wall into which a 3 x 5 foot black granite dedication stone has been set. Commissioned in Tulsa, OK, the wall is flanked by two black granite towers which have been inscribed with the names of those twenty-nine victims of 9/11. Family members were presented with a 6 x 6 inch replica on which is inscribed the name of their loved one.

When asked why the memorial was constructed at Farmingdale State, Ray Buckley, president of LIMLF responded, "There is a strong connection between Farmingdale State and LIMLF. For approximately ten years, we have run a lacrosse jamboree on campus in June. More than 3,000 male and female lacrosse players participated in this jamboree each year. In fact, the Nold Hall Athletic facilities are in use all year for lacrosse activities."

Billy Rebman, a member of the LIMLF Board of Directors, added, "We want to give a big thank you to the Farmingdale State staff, especially Mike Harrington, Don Haworth and Kevin Rooney."

The LIMLF regional chapter was established May 30, 1985 to encourage, foster, and promote through independent means, the sport of lacrosse for both male and female players in the metropolitan New York, Long Island and surrounding areas.

Among many others, the following local players were honored:

Mike Healey attended Massapequa High School. He was forty-two years old and lived in East Patchogue. He was a New York City fireman.

Peter Siracuse went to Bethpage High School. He played lacrosse at SUNY Stony Brook. He lived in New York City and was twenty-nine-years old. He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald.

In December, DVDs of the memorial ceremony were mailed to the families of the lacrosse players who died on September 11. In the spring, at least 20 more bricks will be installed at the memorial and a rededication will take place. For more information on the memorial, including how to purchase the $100 bricks, contact Billy Rebman at 623-4272.

The LI 9/11 Lacrosse Memorial is open to the community. All are invited to visit and reflect on the lives of these fellow Long Islanders.