Several local residents participated in the American Red Cross (ARC) of Nassau County's 13th Annual Swim-A-Cross on Friday, Aug. 16 at Centre Island Beach in Bayville. This year, 163 swimmers - 47 who swam in memory of a loved one who perished on September 11, 2001 - came out to raise funds for the ARC, a nationwide organization that helps people in tragic emergencies.

"Those figures set all new records for us," said James K. Green, director of public relations for the ARC/Nassau. Last year's Swim-A-Cross had an all-time record at that point of 149 swimmers and raised a record-setting $22,000 for local disaster relief and life-saving programs. This year, the Red Cross expects to raise $25,000 when all the swimmers' pledges are tallied over the upcoming weeks.

As the athletes came out of the water, they were given a commemorative Red Cross September 11th pin and a dry towel. The swimmers wore numbered tags and were asked to return them in an effort to assure the Red Cross that everyone who entered the water came out.

A memory board depicting the names of those people being remembered was set up on the Centre Island Beach. The names included: Christopher Allingham, Steve Belson, Kevin Bracken, Capt. Frank Callahan, Jeremy Carrington, Bobby D'Angelis, Michael D'Auria, Andy Desperito, Donald DiFranco, Raymond Downey, Bruce Gary, Edward Geraghty, James Giberson, Lt. John Ginley, Jeff Giordano, Catherine Gorayeb, Wade Green, David Gimner, Lt. Vincent Halloran, Brooke Jackman, William Johnston, Joseph A. Kelly, Tom Kelly, Tom Cangone, Michael Lynch, Thomas Mahon, Steve Mercado, Peter T. Milano, Henry Miller, Jr., Vincent Morello, John Ballantine Niven, Michael Otten, Eddie Pappa, Bronko Pearsall, John William Perry, Michael Roberts, Jonathan S. Ryan and John Swaine.