Commack’s 9-11 Night of Remembrance Tradition Continues

Story & photos by Photos by Brenda Lentsch

The Commack School District continued its tradition of paying tribute to the 3,000 men and women who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, with the 13th annual Night of Remembrance. This year’s ceremony was dedicated to the 1,600 first responders who have died since that fatal attack from related illnesses, and their widows and children.

Guest speakers included Congressman Steve Israel, Senator John Flanagan, and John Feal (FealGood Foundation), Board of Education President, Deborah Guber, and Vice President, Steve Hartman. Each speaker shared the touching stories of five first responders who willingly spent months digging through the rubble at the Twin Towers and have since passed away: Robert Zane (NYPD), Martin C. Simmons (FDNY), John McNamara (FDNY), John C. Devlin (Local 15 Operating Engineer), and Mark Gajewski (Local 30 Operational Engineers). These patriots teach us the simple, yet inspirational message of hope, and what it really means to be an American.

Master of ceremonies included long-time Board of Education trustee, MaryJo Masciello, and Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Donald James. Community Relations consultant, Debbie Virga, is the organizer and driving force behind the event that drew over 2,000 thousand attendees from our schools and the surrounding community.

Commack High School senior Olivia DeSonni Ammaccapane sang the National Anthem. A 21-gun salute by the Marine Corps Huntington Detachment #792 was followed by the playing of “Taps” by Commack graduate Chris Toomey. Politicians representing our nation, state, and local constituencies as well as state, city, and local firefighter, police, and ambulance departments participated in the ceremony. Rabbi Telden gave the invocation and Deacon Lou Anatrella, the benediction.

The Commack School District is the only school district on Long Island that has continuously commemorated 9-11. A 9-11 Memorial Plaza was dedicated at the high school in 2012. The centerpiece is a monument topped with a section of steel from the Twin Towers. It is surrounded by walkways inlaid with engraved bricks donated by community and staff members and others across the country. There are benches where individuals can rest and reflect.

In the words of Joe Daniels, President and CEO of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, “Our spirits are sustained by what the terrorists could never destroy: our shared humanity. On this day, we remember how a nation became a family and how the world came together with limitless compassion.”

Photo top: – First responders, including John Feal from the Fealgood Foundation, gather on Commack’s Heroes Memorial FIeld before the ceremony.

Photo below: John Feal with Jack McNamara, the son of first responder John McNamara, who died of 9/11 related cancer in 2009. Wife and mom Jennifer is a voice on behalf of 9/11 responders, raising public awareness about the sick and dying men and women.