"In a world searching for role models we were fortunate to have someone growing up in Hicksville who went on to make a difference in this world," said Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto during a dedication ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 2.

At this time, a section of Gull Road in Hicksville was ceremonially renamed "P.O. Walter Weaver Way" in memory of Walter E. Weaver, a Hicksville native and New York City Police Officer who gave his life on September 11, 2001. Family and friends of Weaver, representatives of the Fraternal Order of Police and members of the New York City fire services joined Venditto for the unveiling of a street sign which will serve as a permanent memorial to Weaver.

The ceremony began with a welcome and prayer led by Monsignor Edward Donnelly of Holy Family R. C. Church in Hicksville. Joining Weaver's family and friends were members of ESU Truck 3 and the 47th Precinct. Music for the ceremony, including Amazing Grace and Scotland the Brave, was provided by the Clan Gordon Highlanders Pipe Band of Locust Valley. Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes and Supervisor Venditto served as the speakers of the event.

Earlier this year, the fallen officer's father, William "Scotty" Weaver, began working with Hudes and the Town of Oyster Bay to erect a fitting memorial. "Gary Hudes came over to my house one day and asked if there was anything he could do for my son," said Mr. Weaver, a native of Scotland and current Levittown resident. "I asked him to name the street he grew up on after him. So we, my son Brian and I, wrote a letter, gave it to Gary and he took it to Supervisor Venditto and he said 'yes.' The whole thing only took about two weeks."

The result was a permanent street sign atop a pole at the intersection of Gull Road and Barter Lane, just feet from the home where the fallen officer spent most of his life. "This sign will serve as a permanent reminder, to all who travel on this street, of a young man who made a true difference in the world," said Venditto. "Walter gave his life in the service of others and will be forever remembered for his heroism, bravery and humanity." (Please note: Although the road was ceremonially renamed, all mail and address information must still be directed to Gull Road.)

Weaver became an officer with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in 1992. He was first assigned to the 47th Precinct and in February 1998 Weaver fulfilled his dream of becoming a member of the NYPD's Emergency Services Unit (ESU). On September 11, 2001, Weaver, an officer with ESU's Truck 3 in the Bronx, was killed in heroic efforts while trying to free passengers from an elevator on the 11th floor of the south tower when it collapsed. He was 30 years old.

Growing up, Weaver attended the Fork Lane Elementary School and Hicksville Middle School and High School. He lived in Hicksville until just weeks before his death at which time he and his fiancée, Shannon Faulkner, also of Hicksville, moved into a home in Centereach.

During the ceremony, Mr. Weaver presented a representative of the Fork Lane School with a plaque and statue featuring a small child and a police officer. "I figured this was an appropriate donation to the school," said Mr. Weaver. The plaque was engraved with the following inscription from the Police Athletic League (PAL): "Dedicated to the Memory of Nassau County PAL Volunteer Walter Weaver. In life, he inspired the children of Nassau County. His memory now inspires our entire nation." According to Mr. Weaver, his son was a member of PAL who taught the children of the Fork Lane School how to safely shoot bows and arrows.

In addition to aiding in the dedication of the road sign, the town also presented Mr. Weaver with "P.O. Walter Weaver Way" sign of his own. "We wanted to give him something tangible from the town to hold in his hands and keep close to his heart to show that his son did have a huge and positive impact on the community," said Venditto.

"It is beautiful and I am so proud of it," said Mr. Weaver. "I am going to make a hall of honor in my apartment. It will go right up there on the wall with everything else. Right now, I am working on getting it all together."

He added that in the months immediately following the World Trade Center attacks, there wasn't much time to do anything other than attend memorial services and funerals. But last weekend's dedication ceremony, said Mr. Weaver, had a different feeling then those of the past 18 months. "This is so personal," he said . "All the funerals were for someone missing. This one gave me the feeling of someone found and recognized."