Last week the Farmingdale Community Summit Council held its "Farmingdale Remembers" ceremony at the Farmingdale Public Library. I want to thank the Summit for having this ceremony and for doing such a beautiful job arranging it. Deputy Mayor Joe Rachiele, Trustee Christiansen and I attended the half-hour ceremony and we were all moved by the emotions of the day. While everyone has their own memories of that unforgettable day and everyone still deals with it in their own way, it is important to always remember those we lost, those that were part of the rescue and recovery teams and to remember what makes our community and country so special. I think the poem written by Summit Founder and Past President Tom Sabellico for the initial 9/11 monument dedication says it all:

Two towers stood like beacons in the night;
Two towers stood as symbols of power and might.

A year ago forces struck in an effort to take us apart;
Not just the towers, but the people, our spirit, our heart.

The concrete, steel and glass of the towers fell to dust,
But amazingly the spirit they stood for, remains strong within us.

Every physical part of those towers is gone, even the foundation
But the spirit they stood for galvanized our nation;

The loss of people was hard to accept and understand;
We cried, we shook, then as a nation we each held out our hand;

One by one, we cried, family by family, we dried each other's eyes;
Community by community, we knit together to ensure America would rise;

Though our own foundations were shaken, they were not destroyed;
We prayed, we stood together, we gave each other our hearts to fill the void;

Heroes arose from every community, from every city, every place,
Firemen, police, children, teachers, every warm heart, every friendly face;

Many new "towers" stood up for America, helping us cope and heal,
We found that our families, our values, our spirit and heart were real.

Towers of concrete, steel and glass will definitely rise again in our nation,
We are just as sure that the sun will shine again on our generation

Tonight as we dedicate this site to the heroes of our community,
Let us dedicate ourselves to two new towers of understanding and unity

As we remember those who died, were hurt, and those who rose to the occasion,
Let us send out a message that we remain strong as a nation

Knowing that that strength comes not from buildings or towers,
But from within the fabric of American communities such as ours.