When the obituaries for those who perished on September 11, 2001 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 29 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 by 6 foot stone wall into which a 3 by 5 foot black granite dedication stone has been set. Commissioned in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the wall is flanked by two black granite towers that have been inscribed with the names of those 29 victims of 9/11. Family members were presented with a 6 by 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 10 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.

The following players were honored:

Dennis Buckley was an alumnus of Lynbrook High School. He earned a lacrosse scholarship to the University of Maryland. He was 38 years old and lived in New Jersey. He was an employee of Cantor Fitzgerald.

Tom Collins was a Half Hollow Hills East High School alumnus. Tom was a star lacrosse player at Ithaca College. He was 36 years old and lived in New York City. He worked for Sandler O'Neill & Partners, Investment Bankers.

Tim Coughlin was a lacrosse MVP at St. Mary's High School. He attended Stonehill College. He was 42 years and lived in New York City. He was a Cantor Fitzgerald employee.

Martin DeMeo attended Port Washington High School and Nassau Community College. Martin was a New York City fireman. He was 47 years old and lived in Farmingville.

Douglas DiStefano attended West Islip High School and played lacrosse and football as a member of a Long Island championship team. He went to Gettysburg College. He was 24 years old and lived in Hoboken, New Jersey. He was a Cantor Fitzgerald employee.

Terry Farrell graduated from Hicksville High School. He was 45 years old and resided in Huntington. Terry was a New York City Fireman.

Morty Frank attended Lynbrook High School where he played lacrosse. He attended Drexel University. He was 31 years old and lived in New York City. He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald.

Tim Haskell went to Seaford High School. He was 34 years old and lived in Massapequa Park. He was a New York City fireman.

Tom Haskell was a lacrosse player at Seaford High School. He attended St. Johns University. He was 37 years old and lived in Massapequa Park. He was a New York City fireman.

Mike Healey attended Massapequa High School. He was 42 years old and lived in East Patchogue. He was a New York City fireman.

George Howard was a Chaminade High School alumnus. He attended Lafayette College. He was 45 years old and lived in Hicksville. George was a Port Authority policeman.

John Iskyan went to Manhasset High School. John attended St. Michael's College and was a resident of Wilton, Connecticut. He was 41 years old. He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald.

Ron Kloepher went to Sewanhaka High School. He played lacrosse at Adelphi University. A New York City EMS truck named for him was at the ceremony. He was 39 years old and lived in Franklin Square. He was a New York City policeman and founded the NYPD Lacrosse Club.

Ryan Kohart went to Garden City High School. He earned a lacrosse scholarship to the University of North Carolina where he was the captain of the team. Ryan was 26 years old and lived in New York City. He was a Cantor Fitzgerald employee.

Steve Lamantia was an alumnus of East Meadow High School. He played lacrosse at Roanoke College. He was 38 years old and lived in Darien, Connecticut. Steve worked for Cantor Fitzgerald.

Dave Leistman went to Sewanhaka High School. He was a member of Adelphi University's 1979 Division II national championship team. He was 43 years old and lived in Garden City. He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald.

Eamon McEneaney was a Sewanaka High School alumnus. He was a lacrosse All American at Cornell University where he won two national championships. He was 46 years old and lived in New Canaan, Connecticut. He was an employee of Cantor Fitzgerald.

Peter O'Neill Jr. graduated from Holy Trinity High School. He played lacrosse at Bentley College. He lived in Amityville and was 21 years old. He worked for Sandler O'Neill & Partners, Investment Bankers and was a volunteer firefighter in Amityville. He intended to become an emergency medical technician.

Peter Ortale went to high school in Philadelphia. He was the captain of the lacrosse team at Duke University. He played lacrosse with the New York Athletics Club, lacrosse Club. He was 37 years old and lived in New York City. He worked for Euro Brokers.

Chris Quackenbush attended Bay Shore High School. He graduated from the University of North Carolina and New York University Law School. He coached youth lacrosse in Manhasset where he lived. He was 44 years old and worked for Sandler O'Neill & Partners.

Jonathan Ryan was a Herricks High School alumnus. He was captain of the lacrosse team at SUNY Stony Brook. He was 32 years old and resided in Bayville. He was a Euro Brokers employee.

John "Pepe" Salerno attended Port Washington High School. He played lacrosse at Nassau Community College and St. John's University. He lived in Westfield, New Jersey and was 31 years old. He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald.

John Schroeder played lacrosse at St. Anthony's High School. He helped Princeton University win their first lacrosse national championship. He was 31 years old and lived in Hoboken, New Jersey. He worked for Fred Alger Management.

Peter Siracuse went to Bethpage High School. He played lacrosse at SUNY Stony Brook. He lived in New York City and was 29 years old. He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald.

Andrew Stergiopoulos went to Great Neck North where he was captain of the lacrosse team and two years All County. He was a George Washington University alumnus. He was 23 years old and lived in New York City. He was a Cantor Fitzgerald employee.

John Damien Vaccacio played lacrosse at Holy Trinity High School and continued at Hartwick College. He lived in New York City and was 30 years old. He was employed by Cantor Fitzgerald.

Glen James Wall attended Lynbrook High School. He was the captain of the lacrosse team at Johns Hopkins University where he helped win the 1984 national championship. He was 38 years old and lived in Rumson, New Jersey. He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald.

Ken Watson set the record for single season scoring at Smithtown West High School. He attended Suffolk Community College. He was 39 years old and lived in Smithtown. He was a New York City fireman.

Glen Wilkinson was a Levittown Memorial High School alumnus. He graduated from Hofstra University. He was 46 years old and lived in Bayport. He was a New York City fireman and his family received the Congressional Medal of Valor from the President of the United States.

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.