A memorial monument paying tribute to the more than 20 Garden City residents who perished in the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks will be unveiled this Sept. 11, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Village Green. The dedication ceremony will include words from Mayor Barbara Miller and various church leaders, the Garden City High School choral group and the Garden City Police Department/Garden City Fire Department Color Guard.

According to Mayor Miller, the "short but dignified" ceremony is taking place early in the evening to allow residents to attend any religious services also scheduled. Further, the board of trustees has a 7 p.m. work session slated for that evening as well.

The Valente Contracting Corporation, a company based out of Mineola, provided the brick pavers the monument sits on for $9,775 while Scheurer Monuments Inc., a company based out of Westbury, provided the granite stone and benches for $11,597.

It should be noted that Village Engineer Chris Markin spearheaded the project, which cost the village a total of $21,372. Further, arborist Mike Didyk spearheaded all the plantings around the monument, along with the Parks Department. Concerned with whether or not the $21,372 in funds would allow for any possible modifications to the design, Trustee John Mauk last summer noted that many village residents who lost loved ones were interested in incorporating into the monument an artifact from the World Trade Center.

A collection point had been set up, according to Mauk, and artifacts were collected in other communities that were also planning memorials. But according to Village Administrator Robert Schoelle Jr., the Port Authority was not able to release pieces of the structures at the time the village's request was made. "Once they are able to release material, we will be in a position to obtain something and incorporate it into the monument," he told Garden City Life last Wednesday.

Original plans included erecting the monument at the train station near the public library on Seventh Street. But in deference to requests by the families of those lost, officials agreed to put it near the gazebo at the Village Green, located at the corner of Hilton and Stewart Avenues.

Resident James Murphy III, who lost his son Jim, went before trustees last August and suggested several changes, including placing the memorial at the Village Green due to the more contemplative and private setting that the families and others are more likely to feel comfortable visiting.

He also noted that erecting the monument near the gazebo would put it closer to the benches that his family, as well as several other families, installed in memory of their family member. He also felt that erecting the monument at the Village Green would enable it to be seen and appreciated by village residents that spend time in that area to take photos and attend summer concerts and other community events.

Garden City trustees approved a motion last summer to proceed with plans for the monument. Trustee Peter Negri brought forth the motion during last June's board meeting, although it was not on the agenda, with hope to have the memorial completed and dedicated on or before September, 11, 2002. One year later, residents will now have a place to grieve and reflect on days past.

The following residents' names have been etched in the memorial monument stone: Thomas M. Brennan, Jonathan Neff Cappello, Paul Cascio, Michele Coyle-Eulau, Laurence Curia, Michael L. DiAgostino, William J. Dimmling, Christopher J. Dunne, Paul Eckna, Michael Hardy Edwards, Robert J. Ferris, Peter V. Genco, Ryan A. Kohart, David Leistman, Robert C. McLaughlin Jr., James F. Murphy, IV, James R. Ostrowski, Durrell Pearsall, James G. Smith, Eric Thomas Steen, John F. Swaine, Kevin T. Szocik and Stephen K. Tompsett.