Village Marks Sept. 11 Anniversary

By Joe Scotchie

As with towns and municipalities all across the United States, the Village of Roslyn held its own Patriot Day, 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony, last Monday morning, as the nation commemorated the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attack on New York City and Washington, D.C.

Terri Langone, the widow of Peter Langone with members of Roslyn Rescue fire company. They are posing in front of a truck which honors the Langone brothers. (Photo by Gill Associates)

Numerous local dignitaries attended and spoke at the event, which also included area residents and members of both Roslyn Rescue and Roslyn Highlands Fire Departments.

The appearance of the fire companies added a special poignancy to the morning ceremonies, as three Roslyn area firefighters--Peter and Thomas Langone and Thomas Haub--perished on that day while performing rescue operations at the World Trade Center.

During the ceremonies, Terri Langone, the widow of Peter Langone was presented with a boutique of flowers by Village of Roslyn Mayor John Durkin.

In addition to Mayor Durkin, those delivering comments at the event were State Senator Michael Balboni, State Assemblyman Charles Lavine, and US Rep. Gary Ackerman. The invocation was given by the Rev. Monsignor Richard C. Bauhoff of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, while Rabbi Benjamin David of Temple Sinai delivered the benediction. Vocalist Susan Hugelmeyer sang God Bless America and two Roslyn High School trumpeters, Sara Gluck and Eric Imperato, played a version of Taps.

In his remarks, Henry Krukowski, president of Roslyn Fire Rescue Hook & Ladder No. 1, remembered the Langone brothers and Thomas Haub and also how the Roslyn community "stood as one" in those traumatic days following September 11 to rally behind the families of the victims.

As they did on the first anniversary of September 11, Village of Roslyn Board of Trustee members--Nolan Myerson, Marshall Bernstein, Craig Westergard, and Marta Genovese--all delivered a timeline of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, from the impact of the first plane to the collapse of the World Trade Center and parts of the Pentagon.

Finally, Mayor Durkin read from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, words that were especially appropriate for an equally solemn remembrance day.