About 100 people gathered on Saturday, May 10 on the western waterfront to participate in the dedication of the new memorial garden created in remembrance of our "Friends, Neighbors and Loved Ones: the innocents lost on September 11, 2001" in the attack on the World Trade Center.

The most poignant moment was when NYS Senator Carl Marcellino and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto took turns reading the names of those who perished. It brought the tragedy home to everyone. The names included were: Joshua Todd Aaron, Timothy Byrne, Christopher Ciafardini, Peter Victor, Peter Genco, Brooke Alexandra Jackman, Joseph A. Kelly, Thomas A. Mahon, Edward J. Papa, Bernard E. Patterson, Laurence Polatsch, Bart J. Ruggiere, Jonathan S. Ryan, John "Pepe" Salerno, Adrianne V. Scibetta, Christopher Paul Slattery, Michael Taddonio, Daniel P. Trant and Joshua S. Vitale.

In remembrance to those who lost their lives on the 11th day of September, 2001, a new area has been created that will bring rest and relaxation to members of the community for years to come. The memorial was made possible through the efforts of New York State Senator Carl L. Marcellino in cooperation with Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto. In his introduction, Senator Marcellino listed the other people who helped with the project including Chuck Hamilton, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Region 1; TOB Commissioner Richard Lenz; Nassau County Police Inspector Steve Williams; members of the Oyster Bay Fire Company; the Atlantic Steamer Fire Company and the East Norwich Fire Company; Cameron Engineering members John Cameron and John Pascucci; the Sea Cliff Chamber Players; David Winkler; Robert Carmichael who played the bagpipes; Sister Pat Bimblett of Saint Dominic's Church who organized the group of survivors families who have been meeting at the church and JoAnn Cohen.

Senator Marcellino said it was the beautiful locale that will get even better as time goes by and the landscaping fills in around the meditation garden. Father Doug Hutchins of St. Paul's Church in Glen Cove gave the opening prayer. Alyssa Honeycutt sang the national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.

Oyster Bay Fire Co. #1 First Assistant Chief Anthony Di Carolis said of September 11, "It was the day we learned that our country is vulnerable and the day showed the country, the heroic average citizen who met the best of humanity and the worst of humanity that day."

Senator Marcellino read a letter from Governor George Pataki. Supervisor John Venditto said, "The nation is starved for role models and we go to rock concerts and look at athletes to find them, and they are here. These are the people who have made this a better world, a better community." He thanked Senator Marcellino for making the memorial a reality.

The senator greeted the families and noted guests, including: Bayville Mayor Victoria Siegel, Judge Ken Diamond, Councilman Chris Coschignano, Jack Williams, president of Friends of the Bay; Fritz Coudert, president of The WaterFront Center; and the Mayor of Mill Neck Theodore B. Smith, Jr. He said, "Today we mark the memory of September 11th in stone and granite: a place we can bring our children to help them understand what happened that day.

"But for those here today, monuments, speeches or ceremonies are not needed to take us back to that time and place, that is where we always have been. We will always remember the perfect blueness of the sky that Tuesday morning and the pain and anguish we felt as a dark cloud descended on America. Those powerful images are enduring reminders. President Bush said, 'Every one of the innocents who died on September 11th was the most important person in the world to somebody. Every death extinguished a world.'

"Today at this gathering we understand clearly the devastating truth and magnitude of those words." The senator brought the tragedy home, as he looked at the relationships of those lost and the families they left behind.

Senator Marcellino brought everything down to the common denominator as he said, "We pray for the 1,609 wives and husbands who will return to an empty home but we remember our neighbors, Daniel, Peter, Thomas and Timothy and the wives they left behind.

"We pray for all the fathers who never saw their unborn children. But our hearts break as we think of the babies that Pepe, Joseph and Jonathan didn't get the chance to hold.

"We pray for the parents who lost the children that they love. And we remember the smiles and the joy of Bart, Brooke, Joshua, Chris, Josh, Laurence and Christopher.

"We pray for the 3,051 children who lost a parent, but we remember the children of Adriane, Eddie, Michael and Bernie.

"It is right and fitting that we pay our respects and join together as a community to pray, to honor and to remember all of the innocents lost on one of the darkest days in American history. But we hold in our hearts the memory of our friends, neighbors and loved ones. They are not alone; we stand with them. They are a part of us and have united us as never before. We draw strength from that spirit of unity and from the compassion of our people. And this memorial stands as a symbol of the spirit that is unique to our town and our commitment to not just our state and our country but to each other.

"As a community we remember what we have lost and those we have loved and take comfort in knowing that we shall never forget the innocents, their families of the 46th minute of the eighth hour of the 11th day," he concluded.

New York Police Department paramedic Rob Charmichael, played Going Home on the bagpipes. He was involved in the rescue work at the World Trade Center.

After the monument was unveiled, the Rev. Doug Hutchins dedicated the monument saying, "This is holy ground dedicated to the people and all who died on September 11. Everyone can sit here in peace and silence knowing the pain will never go away."

The voices of the little children attending underscored the words. The recitation of the names followed and was touching to everyone, allowing tears to softly flow.

There was a moment of silence followed by echo Taps. Then two firefighters helped raise the flag. The family members were asked if they wanted to speak, but none did, except for the loud voice of a child saying "My daddy." As Amazing Grace was played on the bagpipes, the wind caught the flag and it unfurled.

"There will be a permanent spotlight aimed at the flag," said Senator Marcellino. There was a moment of silence.

Chris Ciafardini's dad Ed and a friend, Frank Murphy, looked at the monument. "It's a beautiful setting. It was tastefully done," said Mr. Ciafardini. "This really captures the essence of the area: sailing, the nautical setting, the flag and the signage. It's simply wonderful," said Mr. Murphy.

"I think it's a very nice tribute. It's a beautiful place to come to. They really did a fine job," said Barbara Jackman, Brooke Jackman's mother. Her husband, Bob too felt it was a nice place to come to, "especially with the plantings around the memorial and the wonderful view of the bay."

Billy Gouse, a resident of Bayside Avenue said, "I like the whole monument. It's nice to look at and the setting is really grand. You can see the bay. It's always so attractive here and now it's really nice." (The VFW Gouse Hall in Hicksville, was named after his grandfather.)

Mr. Gouse said he is aware of the environment at the waterfront. When the plans for the area were explained to him, that the small stream on the lot was being enhanced as a wetland, he said, "The stream is there when it rains. On a real rainy day you can see a second stream going toward the bay on the right side, where it puddles." Of the entire plan, he said, "I think it's excellent."

He and a neighbor both agreed "the sooner the better," when talking about the planned dead end to Bayside Avenue that is part of the West End Avenue plan. Mr. Gouse said having a one-way entrance to the western waterfront would make it easier to keep the area safe and secure.

As the morning events concluded, Fritz Coudert, president of the WaterFront Center said, "It's a perfect day for this. The weather set the tone for the day - with the others represented in the mist." He liked the ambiance of the site, an enhancement to the western waterfront where his organization is located.