Thoughts and prayers were with the victims and families of September 11, 2001 and two years later, America has not forgotten that dreadful day. Last Thursday, at Mineola's Memorial Park, a ceremony was held to honor the victims and heroes of September 11 at the monument.

The ceremony drew over 1,000 people who came in memory of those in perished and to recognize the bravery that will forever be synonomous with that day. Present were many dignitaries, the members of Mineola's volunteer organizations such as the Mineola Fire Department, Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Mineola Auxiliary Police, the members of the veterans organizations (American Legion Post 349 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1305) as well as Boy Scout Troop 45, the Mineola High School Marching Band and color guard and Chaminade High School glee club.

"Today is a very special day for all of us to stand together to remember the unity we felt on 9/11 and continue that unity and strength for all of us and to remember what our enemies are out to do. Therefore, we must all stand strong and protect it. God bless America," said Rabbi Pearl of the Congregation Beth Sholom in Mineola.

Although there were not many Mineola residents lost on September 11, the tragedy still hit home as many residents such as Mineola firefighter Mark Valentino lost friends in the World Trade Center.

One of the victims of 9/11 was Peter Owens Jr., who had been planning to move from Williston Park to Mineola with his wife Kathy and daughter Maryellen and sons Joseph and Thomas. Owens worked for Cantor Fitzgerald at One World Trade Center.

Attending the ceremony in Mineola was Peter Owens Sr. of Williston Park. "I would just like to reinforce that we never the 3,000 people who did lose their lives. Live is short. We really must think about tomorrow and go on. We cannot allow the terrorists to dictate the way our lifestyle will be. With God's help, it will be corrected," he said.

The special guest for the ceremony was New York State Governor George Pataki. The governor said the sense of loss is still in our hearts and minds. "This afternoon it is important that we remember and we mourn and we never forget the almost 3,000 heroes that gave their lives on September 11, 2001. It's appropriate that September 11 in my heart, and in the hearts of all of us here this afternoon, will always to be a day filled with a sorrow," he said.

Perhaps what was so shocking about September 11, 2001 was that loving husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends who were going about their lives were taken from the world. A lesson was learned that life cannot be taken for granted.

Another important lesson that was learned from September 11 was who the true heroes are. They are those who put risk of lives in the fact of danger.

One of those heroes was standing near by with his fellow Mineola firefighters. Mineola Fire Chief Scott Strauss was awarded the Medal of Honor, the New York City Police Department's highest honor, for their efforts in saving some fellow officers who were trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center.

Once again, the 9/11 Monument in the park stood proud. The monument was the Eagle Scout project of Edward Kaiser. This year, Kaiser was up at college at the University of Pennsylvania.