9/11 Memorial

County Marks 20th Anniversary of 9/11 with Tribute & Unveiling of Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial

September 11, 2021 by Inside Press

Watch full ceremony on Facebook or YouTube.

(Valhalla, NY) – Overlooking both The Rising memorial and the newly unveiled Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial, Westchester County Executive George Latimer joined the County in mourning those lost due to the terrorist attack that day twenty years ago.

Latimer said: “Each year, this day is day of reflection for those who lived through it and a day to provide comfort to those who lost so much. Now, twenty years later, this day must also serve as a lesson to those too young to remember. I hope this ceremony can both provide comfort and a reminder to all what occurred on that seemingly normal September morning on which the world was changed forever.”

The County’s ceremony, emceed by ABC7 Journalist Marcus Solis, marking the 20^th anniversary of 9/11, once again hosted at the breathtaking Kensico Dam Plaza was a service filled with powerful remarks, moving prayers by Reverend Erwin Lee Trollinger, Imam Shaffieq Chace, & Rabbi Howard Goldsmith, comforting music provided by SUNY Purchase, sadness, but also, hope.

Solis said: “As a reporter who covered the attacks on 9/11, the 20th anniversary has special meaning. I am truly honored to be taking part in the ceremony in Westchester where I live, and where so many families were impacted.”

The ceremony opened with a procession Westchester County Department of Public Safety Ceremonial Unit Color Guard, the Pipes and Drums of the Police Emerald Society of Westchester County and representatives from the NYPD and FDNY. This moving tribute was followed by a rendition the Star Spangled Banner performed by New York Presbyterian Lawrence ICU nurse and Mount Vernon resident Carlo Jose “CJ” Zenarosa.

The solemn occasion was then marked by the laying of a wreath by Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, Department of Emergency Services Commissioner Richard Wishnie, Lisabeta Vukaj – sister Of Simon Marash Dedvukaj who was killed in the north tower – and a member of the Westchester County Department of Safety Police Honor Guard.

The day prior to the ceremony, September 10, Latimer was joined by family members of those fallen for a private unveiling of the newly furnished Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial. This new monument, placed next The Rising at Kensico Dam Plaza, was designed by a committee made up of loved ones of those lost.

Committee Co- Chair and New York City Police Officer Matthew J. McCauley said: “Twenty years after our first responders rushed to the disaster areas that were created in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, these selfless, courageous, brave and humble men and women continue to make the ultimate sacrifice from 9/11 related illnesses. First responders from eleven different agencies, including six from the City of Yonkers Fire & Police Departments and four from the City of White Plains Fire Department are among the initial 41 names engraved on the memorial being unveiled today adjacent to “The Rising.” We applaud Westchester County Executive George Latimer for recognizing that a memorial in the honor of those 9/11 first responders that resided and/or worked or volunteered for Westchester County Agencies and who lost their lives to 9/11 related illnesses was long overdue. The collaboration between County Executive Latimer, his team and this Memorial Committee has had one goal from the beginning, to “Never Forget.” Unfortunately, we expect the number of names here to at least double in size by next year once we capture all that have been lost who are associated with Westchester County. Again, we thank County Executive Latimer for understanding the sobering truth and reality that this memorial will continue to grow in size for decades to come. By supporting this Memorial Committee’s vision, he, along with the rest of the County, has ensured that 9/11 First Responders from Westchester County will never be forgotten.”

The committee, and Westchester County, tragically lost co-chair Peter Woods to a 9/11 related illness earlier this year.

Following the public unveiling of the new memorial, an Eternal Light was lit. A light that will shine 24/7 over the memorial as a testament to the light shone over this County by the heroes this monument is dedicated to.

The ceremony continued on with the reading of the names of those Westchester residents killed on 9/11 and those Westchester residents who have died from 9/11 related illnesses by Westchester County Legislators, District Attorney Miriam Rocah, County Clerk Tim Idoni and family members of those lost.

Names of those lost on 9/11:

William Abrahamson
Peter Craig Alderman
Kazuhiro Anai
Sharon Balkcom
Yelena Belilovsky
Michael J. Berkeley
George Bishop
Michael A. Boccardi
Michelle Renee Bratton
Thomas M. Brennan
Jonathan Eric Briley
Mark Brisman
Lloyd Brown
Ronald Bucca
Tom Burke
Mary T. Caulfield
Alex Ciccone
Kevin Francis Cleary
Robert J. Coll
Helen Crossin-Kittle
Joan Cullinan
Patrick W. Danahy
Dwight Darcy
Marisa DiNardo
Simon A. Dhanani
John J. Doherty
Christopher Michael Duffy
Paul Fiori
Thomas Fitzpatrick
Simon Dedvukaj
Kevin Joseph Frawley
Alan W. Friedlander
John Patrick Gallagher
Charles Garbarini
Peter Gelinas
Kieran Joseph Gorman
Yugi Goya
Gary Haag
Richard B. Hall
Vincent Halloran
W. Ward Haynes
Nobuhiro Hayatsu
Katsuyuki Hirai
Thomas Warren Hohlweck, Jr.
Montgomery McCullogh Hord
Louis Steven Inghilterra
Ariel Louis Jacobs
Arthur Joseph Jones
Douglas G. Karpiloff
Satoshi Kikuchihara
Takashi Kinoshita
Glenn Kirwin
Richard J. Klares
Gary Koecheler
Vanessa Langer
Denis Lavelle
Joseph Leavey
Michael A. Lepore
Richard Lynch, Jr.
Michael J. Lyons
Katie Marie McCloskey
John T. McErlean, Jr.
Francis McGuinn
Michael McHugh, Jr.
Barry J. McKeon
Robert C. McLaughlin, Jr.
Christopher D. Mello
Yamel Merino
William Minardi
Krishna V. Moorthy
George Morell
Dennis Moroney
Takuya Nakamura
Soichi Numata
James A. Oakley
Diana J. O’Connor
Amy O’Doherty
Marni Pont O’Doherty
Samuel Oitice
Sean Gordon Corbett O’Neill
Chris Orgielewicz
Timothy F. O’Sullivan
Michael B. Packer
Thomas Palazzo
James Nicholas Pappageorge
William H. Pohlmann
Hemanth Kumar Puttur
Vincent A. Princiotta
Valsa Raju
Robert A. Rasmussen
John Reo
Joseph R. Riverso
Gregory E. Rodriguez
Edward Ryan
Tatiana Ryjova
Sam Salvo
Eric Sand
Robert Scandole
Marian Serva
Daniel Shea
Joseph Shea
Linda Sheehan
Thomas J. Shubert
Allan Shwartzstein
David Silver
Michael John Simon
Thomas E. Sinton III
Rochelle M. Snell
Robert Speisman
Joseph P. Spor, Jr.
Timothy C. Stout
John Swaine
Sean Patrick Tallon
Michael A. Tamuccio
Kenichiro Tanaka
Joanna Vidal
Jeffrey Walz
James Arthur Waring
Timothy Matthew Welty
William Wik
Marc Zeplin
Ivelin Ziminski
Joseph J. Zuccala

Names read of those lost to 9/11 Related Illnesses:

Firefighter – Gary S. Allo – White Plains Fire Department
Police Officer – Christopher M. Barry – NYPD
Sergeant – Patrick J. Boyle – NYPD
Sergeant – Patrick T. Coyne – NYPD
Battalion – Chief Kevin R. Byrnes – FDNY
John M. Cozza – Construction Industry
Emergency Medical Technician – Luis De Pena, Jr – FDNY
Police Officer Kenneth X. Domenech – NYPD
Police Officer Nicholas G. Finelli – NYPD
Lieutenant – Clark W. Douglass – White Plains Fire Department
Firefighter – Daniel R. Foley – FDNY
Detective – Mark S. Gado – New Rochelle Police Department
Richard A. Grace – Construction Industry
Commissioner Peter S. Guyett – Yonkers Fire Department
Firefighter – Herbert D. Harriott – Rye Fire Department
Police Officer – Joseph F. Heid – NYPD
Detective – Michael A. Houlahan – NYPD
John A. Lo Bianco – Construction Industry
Police Officer – Anthony Maggiore – Yonkers Police Department
Executive Director – Stephan Hittmann – FDNY
Fire Fighter – Gary S. Martin – White Plains Fire Department
Lieutenant – Roy D. McLaughlin – Yonkers Police Department
Firefighter – Robert A. Mentrasti – Fairview Fire Department
Detective – James W. Monahan – NYPD
Police Officer – Walter L. Mallinson – Harrison Police Department
Lieutenant – John W. Moran – FDNY
Firefighter – Kevin J. Nolan – FDNY
Police Officer – Kathleen O’Connor Funigello – New Rochelle Police Department
Firefighter – John V. Peteani Jr – Yonkers Fire Department
Firefighter – Michael R. O’Hanlon – FDNY
Firefighter – Eduardo A. Rivera – Yonkers Fire Department
Detective – Joseph E. Seabrook – NYPD
Captain – Robert J. Spatta – Croton on the Hudson Fire Department
Deputy Chief – Frank G. Strollo – New Rochelle Fire Department
Captain – Ronald G. Peifer SR – NYPD
Captain – Dennis P. Tortorella – Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department
Firefighter – Neill S. Tyndal JR – Yonkers Fire Department
Detective – Charles J. Wassil JR – Peekskill Police Department
Lieutenant – Marden C. Wolf – White Plains Fire Department
James P. Sullivan – New York City Transit Authority
Sergeant – Peter C. Woods – NYPD, Hartsdale Fire Commissioner & Co-Chair of this Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial

The tribute concluded with a moment of silence, flyover by County Police and a performance of Taps by Mount Pleasant Police Officer Peter Blume.

News courtesy of the office of the Westchester County Executive.

Two New 9/11 Memorials Unveiled to Remember Heroes Lost… ‘Humility & Sacrifice’ ‘Courage & Honor’

September 10, 2021 by Inside Press

Barbara Grace, widow of Richard Anthony Grace, who died of lung cancer: “Richard was the owner of Grace Industries; he was at Ground Zero every day.”

The Tortorella family honoring Captain Dennis P. Tortorella of the Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department. Tortorella passed of cancer-related illnesses in May.

Each stone is etched with the names of the Westchester first responders lost to 9/11 related illnesses.

September 10, Valhalla–

Under a blue sky and perfect temperatures in Kensico Dam Plaza, at the foot of The Rising, also a 9/11 memorial, family members and friends shed tears, exchanged stories… and also touched the names of lost loved ones, all recognized as heroes, names etched in white into two new granite stone memorials, unveiled by County officials, 20 years after 9/11.

Family members pointed to or ran fingers lovingly along a name, lingering sometimes… to reflect and remember.

Each family member also received a bouquet of flowers, and soon red and white flowers lay gently below the memorials in respect. The private unveiling preceded tomorrow’s public ceremony at 3:30. Additional information from the County about these new Memorials, a million dollar effort long in the making, follows. –– Grace Bennett

Said County Executive George Latimer: “This memorial is the culmination of a promise this County government made to the families and loved ones of these true Westchester heroes. We will not ever take for granted the actions of these individuals and hope that each person who visits this memorial understands their lasting impact.”

The new memorial is made up of granite stones set on a stone veneer wall. Each stone is etched with the names of the Westchester first responders lost to 9/11 related illnesses. The Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial is designed to complement the stonework of the Dam and surround The Rising as an eternal watch.

The total length of each wall is 20’ and will hold up to 4 4’ long memorial stones each, for a total of 8 memorial stones. A light – which will be known as the Eternal Light – is centered between the two walls and directly across the entrance to the original memorial, The Rising. This light will be on 24/7 to signify the light shone on the County by those this memorial intends to honor.

Construction of this solemn memorial was done by R. Pugni and Sons, Inc. The design of the memorial was completed by a combination of the County’s dedicated Department of Planning. Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation and a committee made up of loved ones of those lost to 9/11 related illnesses. The committee, was co-chaired by New York City Police Officer Matthew J. McCauley and NYPD Sargent Peter Woods who lost his battle to a 9/11 related illness earlier this year.

McCauley said: “On the eve of the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks we are reminded of the nearly 3,000 lives that were lost that day, including those from Westchester County who are memorialized at “The Rising.” Unfortunately, the toll of those lost continues to increase due to 9/11 related illnesses that have claimed so many of our 9/11 First Responders. Again, Westchester County has seen far too many lost to 9/11 illnesses. As the Co-Chair of a Committee made up widows, children, other family members, friends and first responders themselves, we applaud Westchester County Executive George Latimer and his team for supporting our vision and desire to have a memorial for those 9/11 First Responders that worked or resided in county, who have died of illnesses they developed as a result of their heroic actions in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks. This permanent memorial alongside “The Rising” will ensure that the sacrifice of all lost that day and thereafter is never forgotten.”

The committee, who the County owes a debt of gratitude to for their dedicated work, is made up of:

Peter Woods, Co-Chair
Matthew McCauley, Co-Chair
Georgia Asciutto
Valerie Sullivan
Anne Byrnes
Margaret O’Hanlon
Chelsea Wilson
Patricia Mallinson
Ellen Peifer
Sabrina Douglass
Chief Andrew Sandor, New Rochelle Fire Department
Firefighter Robert Barbella, White Plains Fire Department
Carol Ann Gleason
Andrew Mentrasti
Sara Trujillo
Kevin McGuire
Firefighter Sandra Bessels, Harrison Fire Department
Firefighter Robert Curtin, Mount Vernon Fire Department

This committee, through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, met regularly to plan this new memorial. The work done by them, to honor their loved ones, will be forever cherished by the people of Westchester County. Following this private unveiling for families, Latimer and first responders from the region, will fully unveil the memorial to the public during the County’s 9/11 ceremony the following day at 3:30p.m.

The full list of names included in this first round of engraving include:

Firefighter – Gary S. Allo – White Plains Fire Department
Police Officer – Christopher M. Barry – NYPD
Sergeant – Patrick J. Boyle – NYPD
Sergeant – Patrick T. Coyne – NYPD
Battalion – Chief Kevin R. Byrnes – FDNY
John M. Cozza – Construction Industry
Emergency Medical Technician – Luis De Pena, Jr – FDNY
Police Officer Kenneth X. Domenech – NYPD
Police Officer Nicholas G. Finelli – NYPD
Lieutenant – Clark W. Douglass – White Plains Fire Department
Firefighter – Daniel R. Foley – FDNY
Detective – Mark S. Gado – New Rochelle Police Department
Richard A. Grace – Construction Industry
Commissioner Peter S. Guyett – Yonkers Fire Department
Firefighter – Herbert D. Harriott – Rye Fire Department
Police Officer – Joseph F. Heid – NYPD
Detective – Michael A. Houlahan – NYPD
John A. Lo Bianco – Construction Industry
Police Officer – Anthony Maggiore – Yonkers Police Department
Executive Director – Stephan Hittmann – FDNY
Fire Fighter – Gary S. Martin – White Plains Fire Department
Lieutenant – Roy D. McLaughlin – Yonkers Police Department
Firefighter – Robert A. Mentrasti – Fairview Fire Department
Detective – James W. Monahan – NYPD
Police Officer – Walter L. Mallinson – Harrison Police Department
Lieutenant – John W. Moran – FDNY
Firefighter – Kevin J. Nolan – FDNY
Police Officer – Kathleen O’Connor Funigello – New Rochelle Police Department
Firefighter – John V. Peteani Jr – Yonkers Fire Department
Firefighter – Michael R. O’Hanlon – FDNY
Firefighter – Eduardo A. Rivera – Yonkers Fire Department
Detective – Joseph E. Seabrook – NYPD
Captain – Robert J. Spatta – Croton on the Hudson Fire Department
Deputy Chief – Frank G. Strollo – New Rochelle Fire Department
Captain – Ronald G. Peifer SR – FDNY
Captain – Dennis P. Tortorella – Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department
Firefighter – Neill S. Tyndal JR – Yonkers Fire Department
Detective – Charles J. Wassil JR – Peekskill Police Department
Lieutenant – Marden C. Wolf – White Plains Fire Department
James P. Sullivan – New York City Transit Authority
Sergeant – Peter C. Woods – NYPD, Hartsdale Fire Commissioner & Co-Chair Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial

9/11 Flag of Remembrance Finds a Home

October 21, 2017 by Ronni Diamondstein

9/11 Memorial & Museum installation team working with the piece in the museum
PHOTO BY JIN LEE

Overwhelmed by the unfathomable loss of September 11, 2001, Mindy Kombert began to sketch boxes to represent each life lost. The sketch became a blueprint for the Flag of Remembrance that has found a permanent home at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, where it is currently on exhibit. The 20-foot-by-27-foot masterpiece created by Kombert and Sherry Kronenfeld, both Chappaqua residents was a labor of love that gave these women a way to process the events of that fateful day.

“I really felt the need, being a visual person, to visualize the scale of the loss,” says Kombert, a multi-talented artist. She had 12 pages and went to Kronenfeld with her first sketch. “I wanted to learn all about them and what had brought them all together on that day.”

Since the two women had been working together at a local design firm before they started this project, Kronenfeld knew it would be seamless. “Mindy and I have perfectly matched–that is, complementary– skills and talents, so our roles easily fell into place. She came up with the concept and handled the visuals, the graphics, the materials–ink and fabric, etc., and I did more of the organization and the communication.”

Installation at Chappaqua Library in 2004
PHOTO BY JONATHAN C. HYMAN

They suspended their business and formed a committee that grew into a not-for-profit. “It was very difficult initially, we met at my kitchen table,” says Kombert. “We had no idea what it would cost. “They found an anonymous donor to fund the project and received donations of materials and printing services.

Close-ups of the flag
PHOTO BY JONATHAN C. HYMAN

“I took the skills I had, quilting and graphic design, and it evolved into a monument two stories high,” says Kombert. Kronenfeld did the press releases, the media outreach, the contacts and relationships with companies. She contacted all the World Trade Center companies who lost large numbers of employees and the city agencies (FDNY, NYPD, etc.) who lost first responders–to make sure as many people as possible knew about the project.

For ten years I photographed memorials and artwork–large and small–across the country made in response to the 9/11 attacks. The Flag of Remembrance is one of only a handful of objects or artworks I consider to be truly remarkable. Staggering in its scale, detail, and craftsmanship, this flag speaks powerfully to the zeal, compassion, and need to memorialize and speak publicly that was evident across the culture in the aftermath of the attacks. Though generically resembling an American flag, I stood before it the day it was hung the first time, humbled by its ability to be both deeply personal and speak viscerally about our nation’s grief. Indeed, it is a monument unto itself. – JONATHAN C. HYMAN

CNN correspondent Jeanne Moos caught wind of the project and highlighted it in one of her segments on 9/11 victims. Following that special, Kombert and Kronenfeld set up an 800 number to provide a convenient and quick way for people to contact them if they had any questions about the Flag or to send in photos for inclusion. However it also turned out to be a way for family members to tell them about the person they lost. “I had one woman, a widow, who called me several times just to talk about her daughter, who was living with her at the time of the attacks. She talked about what a wonderful daughter she was, how dedicated to her mother and to her job, and how much she was going to miss her,” says Kronenfeld. “In this and many other cases, it seemed to be therapeutic for the family members to talk, for them to communicate everything they could about the special person they had lost. Others were just as heart-wrenching, including several who asked if instead of one close-up photo–as we had indicated was optimum–they could have two in a photo, because they had lost two or more family members.”

The Flag of Remembrance on display at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum PHOTO BY JIN LEE

The Flag was made by transferring victims’ photographs to individual pieces of fabric. The blue field with white stars was dedicated to uniformed first responders while the stripes of white and red were reserved for civilians. Each victim’s name and age were included. An image of a memorial candle accounted for those whom photographs were unavailable.

Deeded to the Museum in 2007, the Flag is now part of the museum’s permanent collection. Kombert kept it folded under her bed in Chappaqua for many years until it was transferred to the Museum’s conservation facility to ready it for the Museum. The Flag will hang for one year and then fall into a rotation schedule with other large works in the collection. “My hope is that it will be loaned or travel,” says Kombert. In addition to its debut at the Chappaqua Library in 2004, the red, white and blue muted-toned flag has been on display at the Kensico Dam memorial The Rising, the Liberty Plaza Marriott, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Doral Arrowwood Westchester.

“The project itself was gratifying, as we felt all along that we were doing everything we could to pay tribute and forever remember the victims of 9/11,” says Kronenfeld.

“The Flag is a reminder of the scale of the loss we suffered,” says Kombert. “I am so happy that it is where it belongs.”

For more information, please visit www.911memorial.org.