Hempstead Town Presents 9/11 Sunrise Memorium

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and the town board hosted a sunrise memorial at Point Lookout Beach on Thursday, Sept. 11 in commemoration of the two-year anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

The sand sculpture at Point Lookout Beach, where citizens paid their respects to those who lost their lives on September 11 with sand dollars placed at the foot of the sculpture.

"Providing comfort, mutual support and healing in the wake of the events of 9/11 has been an abiding theme across our nation," noted Murray. "Two years after the terrorist attacks, out hearts are still broken; however, our nation has united in a profound manner."

Several members of the clergy spoke, helping to provide comfort to those gathered for the memorial. Several of the families living within the Town of Hempstead have been impacted by September 11, 2001 and many residents lost their lives. The town has already held numerous street dedication ceremonies in honor of some of the victims and many are still planned.

Supervisor Murray was joined by a member of the Levittown Fire Department, which lost its beloved chief Ron Kerwin on September 11, in unveiling a sand monument of the Twin Towers.

Attendees were invited to write messages to those who died on sand dollars that were provided by the town. Those sand dollars were then placed at the base of the sand monument. "Hopefully, the powerful image of this sculpture will live on as a reminder of the enduring spirit of friends and family members who died two years ago," stated Murray.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Denise DeAngelis, who lost her husband Robert, placing a sand dollar on the sculpture. Robert DeAngelis was a commissioner of the West Hempstead Fire Department.

Among the speakers at the memorial was a major from the Salvation Army who spent three weeks at Ground Zero counseling the first responders at the site. Offering the perspective of surviving members was West Hempstead resident Denise DeAngelis, who lost her husband Robert, a West Hempstead Fire Commissioner, in the World Trade Center.

"Those who perished in the terrorist attacks of September 11 were victims of the first battle of the first war of the 21st century. They died as heroes and we will never forget them," said Murray.

Many residents went to Point Lookout Beach following the attacks on the nation to reflect and seek solace. Murray invited residents to once again seek solace as they took part in a silent vigil by the waters of the Atlantic. The vigil was followed by residents casting flowers into the sea.