On a dreary, dank and very rainy Tuesday, the elected officials, dignitaries and residents of the Town of North Hempstead gathered together to remember the day that changed the nation forever.

The day was even more significant this year because the anniversary fell on a Tuesday, the same day of the week as the infamous attack on our shores. At approximately the same time, as the original attack, on the first World Trade building, the Town of North Hempstead held a memorial service at Clark Botanic Garden in Albertson to honor and remember the victims who were killed on that day of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, including over 60 North Hempstead residents and natives.

However, due to the intense rain, the ceremony was held inside the main building at Clark Gardens, not at the customary garden site of the memorial.

"The events of September 11 have fundamentally altered the landscape of our nation, and it is important as individuals that we take the time to always remember those who lost their lives in the horrific attacks that took place that day," said North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman.

The ceremony, which was organized by a visibly moved North Hempstead Town Clerk Leslie Gross, included an invocation and benediction by Pastor Robert Riebau of the Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hyde Park, the playing of Taps, gun salute and presentation of colors by the Albertson Veterans of Foreign Wars, Commander Vinnie DeMartino of the Albertson VFW led the Pledge of Allegiance, and two moments of silence at 8:46 and 9:03 a.m. denoting the times when each of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were attacked.

Gross said, "By gathering this morning, we also honor the brave men and women of our armed forces, police, fire departments, and ambulance corps for their devotion to duty on that day and the heart-wrenching weeks that followed."

Also participating in the service were Town Council members Thomas K. Dwyer, Maria-Christina Poons, Lee Seeman, Angelo Ferrara, Robert Troiano, Jr., and Fred Pollack, who provided a memorial reading of the names of North Hempstead residents who perished in the attacks.

New York State Senator Craig Johnson offered remarks to open the program; Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, who read a poem to the assembled and Town Receiver of Taxes Rocco Iannarelli, who led the congregants into the moments of silence. Patrick Tobin, in the town clerk's office, sang a moving rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, never an easy song to sing.

Attending the service were Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman, State Assemblymen Charles Lavine and Thomas McKevitt, and Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink.

In addition to annually commemorating the victims of the 2001 attacks, the Town of North Hempstead has established a permanent monument in Clark Botanic Gardens.

The town has chosen a quiet, beautiful grove at Clark Garden where a memorial was erected with an affixed plaque, which reads:

We dedicate this quiet grove in living memory of the victims and heroes of North Hempstead whose lives were lost in the tragic attack on the World Trade Center September 11, 2001.

Also participating in the ceremony was the Albertson Fire Company. Purple flowers were placed by the memorial this year symbolizing remembrance.

The following names were read by the various council members of the town:

Christy Addamo, New Hyde Park

Robert Baierwalter, Albertson

Janice Blaney, Williston Park

Michael Boyle, Westbury

Richard Buehert, Westbury

Michael John Cahill, East Williston

Roko Camaj, Manhasset

Paul Casio, Manhasset

William Chalcoff, Roslyn

Neil James Cudmore, Port Washington

Thomas Deangelis, Westbury

Joseph Dickey, Manhasset

Christopher Joseph Dunne, Mineola

Robert Easton, Manhasset

Robert Foti, Albertson

Brett Frieman, Roslyn

Arlene Fried, Roslyn Heights

William Green, Westbury

Matthew Grzymalski, New Hyde Park

Jennifer Howley, New Hyde Park

Michael Helmut Haub, Roslyn Heights

Robert Hussa, Roslyn

Jonathan Lee Ielpi, Great Neck

Robert Thomas Jordan, Williston Park

Timothy Kelly, Port Washington

Frederic Kuo, Port Washington

Peter Langone, Roslyn Heights

Thomas Langone, Williston Park

Richard Y.C. Lee, Great Neck

Jeffrey Earl LeVeen, Manhasset

Michael F. Lynch, New Hyde Park

Joseph Maio, Roslyn Harbor

Justin McCarthy, Port Washington

Marcus Neblett, Roslyn Heights

Gerald Olcott, New Hyde Park

Peter J. Owens, Williston Park

Dipti Paten, New Hyde Park

Christopher Quackenbush, Manhasset

Gregory Reda, New Hyde Park

Donald Robson, Manhasset

Antonio Jose Carrusca Rodrigues, Port Washington

Frank Salvaterra, Manhasset

Michael Seaman, Manhasset

Donald Spaminato, Manhasset

John Anthony Spataro, Mineola

Keiichiro Tkahashi. Port Washington

Matthew Vianna, Manhasset

Joshua Vitale, Great Neck

Mitchell Scott Wallace, Mineola

Dinah Webster, Port Washington

Donna Wilson, Williston Park