Riverhead remembers on the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11
There wasn’t a dry eye at the World Trade Center Memorial Park in Calverton on Friday morning during Riverhead Town’s 25th anniversary memorial ceremony of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
A quarter century after one of the darkest days in American history, a crowd of residents, first responders and elected officials gathered to pause and remember the thousands of lives — including souls from the East End — and honor the heroes who answered the call at Ground Zero, and in the recovery efforts.
Led by Town Clerk Jim Wooten, the public ceremony honored those killed in the attacks and reflected on the heroism, sacrifice and unity demonstrated that day and in its aftermath.
On Sept. 11, 2001, 19 Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, ramming two into the World Trade Center towers and a third into the Pentagon. Passengers and crew fought back aboard the fourth plane, Flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville, Pa. The attacks killed 2,977 people: 2,753 in New York, 184 at the Pentagon and 40 aboard Flight 93.
Among the lives lost include local Riverhead residents: Lt. Thomas R. Kelly of Riverhead, James Cappers of Wading River, Jonathan Ielpi of Reeves Park, Derrick Washington of Calverton, Gerard Duffy and John Scharf, both of Manorville.
“As we commemorate this anniversary, a new generation will learn about the unimaginable loss we experienced, and the inspiring stories of bravery, compassion, unity, and service that we witnessed, and have rippled through the decades,” Mr. Wooten said. “The lessons remain etched in our hearts.”
Retired NYPD Detective John Cuddy of Jamesport was one of those local heroes. At the ceremony, he shared his experience from the tragic day in hopes of strengthening others’ remembrance.
At the time, the detective was assigned to the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force and served as a union delegate of the Detectives’ Endowment Association (DEA).
The day started off normal, he recalled. It happened to be the 2001 New York City mayoral primary race. Polls were open and the union’s political action committee was in the middle of a meeting in Queens, when then-DEA president Tom Scotto’s pager went off at the podium — a plane had hit the World Trade Center.
“One of the detectives ran to the roof on Russo’s on the Bay [in Howard Beach], and shortly thereafter, he runs down screaming: another plane just hit the towers,” Mr. Cuddy said. “We all scrambled to figure out what we were going to do.”
All the detectives answered the command to report to Shea Stadium, which is now Citi Field. As he pulled into the stadium, Mr. Cuddy heard a “blood-curdling scream” that came on the radios as the first tower was collapsing.
A NYPD captain grabbed him, told him to take his unmarked police car and drive a battalion chief and other firefighters to the World Trade Center. After rerouting several times due to a blockage at the Midtown Tunnel and 59th Street Bridge, the detective and his packed car finally got over the Triborough Bridge.
As Mr. Cuddy drove down the West Side Highway, and the second tower started to fall.
Once they arrived at Canal Street, what Mr. Cuddy witnessed next was “pandemonium,” he described. A cloud of heavy dust filled the air as the group began their search for survivors and victims.
Mr. Cuddy struggled to get the words out as he detailed one horrific moment that came to mind.
“We found a body, it was a woman…all her clothes were completely burnt off, and she was completely decapitated,” Mr. Cuddy said. “I’ll never forget Bernie Malone, looking me in the eye and saying, ‘what did she do to deserve that?”
In the midst of tragedy, Mr. Cuddy also reflected on the glimmers of hope he saw that day.
“We were taking runs back and forth to Shea Stadium, bringing people back, doing rescue and recovery,” the retired detective said. “That night, I remember coming up the West Side Highway, and there were people screaming — we thought something happened, but they were cheering for us, and I’ll never forget that.”
Many of the speakers at the 25th anniversary of 9/11 ceremony touched on the importance of never forgetting and keeping the memories of those lost, as well as stories like Mr. Cuddy’s, alive.
“This is the 25th year, what is it going to look like in the 50th year,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. “[We] need to make sure that we educate future generations, a lot of that depends on our schools, and our local government leaders…if you think the threat to America is gone, it’s not.”
Photos by Ana Borruto
Mr. Romaine reflected on how the country came together in the face of danger. Councilman Kenneth Rothwell echoed these sentiments, reflecting on the sacrifices of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11, as well as the ordinary citizens who became heroes that day.
“Some were out of the building, and some went back in to help fellow Americans, and that is what I want to think about, is more of the legacy of those heroes that carries on, not just from our men and women in uniform, but from all the citizens that came forward,” Mr. Rothwell said. “Always remember Sept. 11 and the sacrifice people made, but never forget Sept. 12, the unity of this nation.”
Suffolk County Legislator Greg Doroski spoke about “the people who ran towards danger” and “put their own safety second, and stood up for humanity.”
Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio also made remarks, acknowledging local Calverton resident Hal Lindstrom for designing the World Trade Center Memorial Park and sharing her memories of the day.
“I remember the fire trucks and the police coming from all over, from Riverhead, going into the city to help — it was all hands on deck,” Ms. Giglio said. “I remember the conversations with my friends whose husbands and wives came home afterwards, and the stench that they had on their clothing when they came home from being in those fires and pulling people out.”
Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin called the Riverhead memorial “holy ground” where residents can come to remember.
“My grandfather used to say when I would cry, ‘may your tears water your smiles,’ he wanted us to know that grieving was important,” the supervisor said. “When you come to this place with your family or your children, and you remember what your day was like — your Sept. 11, 12 and 13 — may the tears that fall, may they water the tears of tomorrow for your family, and may the joys that you share, may they be the everlasting hope that each of us have.”
Upcoming ceremonies and days of service
A candlelight walk on Park Road/Lt. Thomas R. Kelly Drive is happening on Friday, Sept. 11 at 5:35 p.m. A memorial service will follow at Sept. 11 Memorial Park on Sound Avenue and Park Road/Lt. Thomas R. Kelly Drive in Riverhead at 6 p.m.
The remembrance will continue Saturday, Sept. 12, at Calverton National Cemetery, where the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration and Carry The Load will host a Patriot Day National Day of Service and Remembrance.
The program begins at 10 a.m. in the cemetery’s assembly area. After a brief ceremony, volunteers will spend several hours weeding mulched planting beds. Participants should bring work gloves and a small hand tool for pulling weeds. Buckets will be provided.
Volunteers can register through Carry The Load. Additional information is available from the National Cemetery Administration.
