The Two River Area Remembers

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Area residents were remembering and honoring loved ones, friends, neighbors and  thousands of people they didn’t know during the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States today.
Ceremonies were held this morning in several towns, including Middletown where 37 died. The Monmouth County Park System also held a memorial ceremony at the Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook, the site of the Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial.
It is a time for many to remember the day, where they were and how they were impacted by the tragedy.

In Middletown, a silent tribute was paid to residents who died in the World Trade Center tragedy with a wreath-laying at the Middletown WTC Memorial Gardens at 8:46 a.m. The time marks the start of the terrorist attacks 13 years ago when the first plane hit the towers.

Mayor Stephanie Murray and the Middletown Township Committee, state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, Police Chief Craig Weber and representatives of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2179, American Legion Post 338 and American Legion Post 515 were among those who participated in the tribute. About 100 friends and neighbors came to the gardens for the tribute.

“At times, silence speaks volumes,” Murray said of the commemoration which remains devoid of words. The silence was only broken by the sound of 37 chimes of bell, one for each resident lost in the tragedy. “Middletown’s 9/11 tribute enables each of us to have a private moment while still coming together to reflect on the tragedy and loss of the day,”

web-911tooVisitors were welcome at the Middletown WTC Memorial Gardens from dawn to dusk.  An American flag flown over the World Trade Center on the 10thanniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks flew at the Memorial Gardens during the ceremony. In addition, an American Flag flown over the United States Capitol in memory of these Middletown residents flew at Town Hall.

The Memorial Gardens rest under a canopy of trees and features a landscaped path with benches and a personalized memorial for each of the 37 residents. The gardens are located next to the Middletown Arts Center at 36 Church St. The gardens are open to the public daily.

Flag banners have been installed as a tribute to the Sept. 11th victims. The flag banners are hanging on telephone poles along Kings Highway, Church Street and Middletown-Lincroft Road. The banners are sponsored by local businesses, organizations and individuals.

Residents honored at the Memorial Gardens are:

  • Lorraine D. Antigua
  • Jane S. Beatty
  • Donna Bernaerts-Kearns
  • Alfred J. Braca
  • Ronald M. Breitweiser
  • Patrick J. Buhse
  • Stephen J. Cangialosi
  • Swede Joseph Chevalier
  • Dolores Marie Costa
  • Edward Desimone III
  • Michael Egan
  • David Ferrugio
  • Daniel J. Gallagher
  • John M. Grazioso
  • Felicia Hamilton
  • Patrick A. Hoey
  • Kathleen A. Hunt Casey
  • Brendan Mark Lang
  • Roseanne P. Lang
  • Anna A. Laverty
  • Michael Patrick McDonnell
  • Peter T. Milano
  • Louis J. Minervino
  • Justin John Molisani, Jr.
  • James Thomas Murphy
  • Christopher Newton-Carter
  • Paul R. Nimbley
  • Robert Emmett Parks, Jr.
  • Nicholas P. Pietrunti
  • John M. Pocher
  • Beth Ann Quigley
  • Gregg Reidy
  • Robert Andrew Spencer
  • Dick Stadelberger
  • Kenneth Tietjen
  • Anthony Ventura
  • Rodney James Wotton