A Long Island 9/11 Memorial Ceremony was held on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. at Roosevelt Hall in the Little Theatre on the campus of Farmingdale State University of New York.

Congressman Peter King Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee in the United States Congress was the keynote speaker.

Other dignitaries in attendance of the memorial ceremony included: Congressman Timothy H. Bishop; Congressman Steve Israel; Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy; William Lindsay, Presiding Officer Suffolk County Legislature; Joseph Sawicki, Jr., Suffolk County Controller; State Senator John J. Flanagan; Assemblyman Andrew Raia; Huntington Town Councilwoman Susan Berland; and Judges Patricia Filaberto and Ralph Gazillo. Senator Charles Schumer was represented by Matthew Cohen. All 455 names of the Long Island victims were read aloud.

Realizing that pain and heartache needed to be quieted and soothed, Robert De Silva and Ken Dolan, retired firefighters, undertook an ambitious mission. Leveraging a strong, personal desire to help, they reached out to all Long Islanders, searching for ways to provide relief, support and comfort. The apparent relevance and importance of this effort quickly attracted more volunteers; leading to the formation of the Long Island 9/11 Committee, and a commitment to search for a solution together. Bob and Ken assumed leadership positions on this committee as president and vice president, respectively.

That solution turned out to be a universal memorial for all Long Islanders who were tragically lost on September 11th.

The plan for the memorial subsequently grew to encompass a broad range of goals, including:

• Forming a tribute to honor Long Island victims.

• Fashioning a place for all Long Islanders to feel, to think and to heal.

• Creating a dedicated museum to mark the event in history; teaching future generations about September 11th.

• Building a network to help families overcome life's hurdles.

• Telling the Long Island story - how Long Islanders reacted by donating time and supplies and responding to the call to help.

To reach these goals the committee pushed forward the Long Island 9/11 Memorial agenda and added plans for a Resource Center.

The Long Island 9/11 Memorial was envisioned as a place of solemn reflection, as well as a place of tribute for heroism, community cohesion and education.

Expected to be completed in two phases, a memorial will be erected on a seven-acre site located on the grounds of the State University of New York at Farmingdale. The memorial will honor and remember all Long Islanders who perished on 9/11, celebrate those Long Islanders who came to the aid of those in need, and create an area of contemplation and reflection for survivors, family and friends of the deceased, and anyone seeking solace.

The second phase entails the renovation of historic Cutler Hall. Once complete, the refurbished building will serve as a resource center for family, survivors and anyone seeking knowledge about the events of 9/11 and its aftermath. Cutler Hall will also be made available to the State University of New York at Farmingdale to help facilitate its educational goals.

The Long Island 9/11 Memorial Committee, together with the Long Island Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the State University of New York at Farmingdale, have accepted responsibility to make this vision a reality. The American Institute of Architects oversaw a design competition for the memorial. On January 11, 2005, it was announced that Patricia M. O'Neill's design submission was selected. Her vision includes a 12-foot piece of steel salvaged from Ground Zero, a donation from the Widows and Victims' Families Association (WVFA).