During one of the worst tragedies in our nation’s history, hundreds of men and women — firefighters, police officers and volunteers — ran into harm’s way, demonstrating courage that continues to inspire 15 years after 9/11. READ
Tag: Tom Kelly
BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTOS| Reeves Park residents placed candles at a small memorial for Tom Kelly near Sound Avenue earlier this month on Sept. 11. A new park would be dedicated to his memory.
Plans to build a 9-11 Memorial Park on a four-acre parcel Suffolk County is proposing to buy on the corner of Park Road and Sound Avenue in Baiting Hollow took a step forward last week, when the Suffolk County Parks Trustees approved the park plan at their meeting in Montauk.
Suffolk County still needs to actually purchase the land, which requires an authorizing resolution from the county Legislature.
The property is owned by EMB Enterprises, headed by Kenney Barra, who had originally sought to build shops ton the parcel until the plan ran into opposition.
His attorney, Peter Danowski, has recently questioned whether the county plans to move forward with the purchase, citing the time it’s taken, although officials recently said the acquisition is moving forward.
The park would be dedicated to nearby Reeves Avenue resident Thomas Kelly, a NYC firefighter.
Bob Kelly, Tom’s brother, recently told the News-Review he hopes the park will happen within the next year.
He envisions the site as a memorial for all those who died on that day, as well as the families, loved ones and those who have gotten sick and died from working in the toxic air in the days and weeks that followed.
TIM GANNON FILE PHOTO | Park Road/Thomas Kelly Memorial Drive runs from Sound Avenue north through the Reeves Park neighborhood.
Members of the Kelly family and other residents of the Reeves Park area in Baiting Hollow will keep the memory of Tom Kelly and others who died on Sept. 11, 2001, alive Tuesday with a small candlelight vigil along Park Road.
BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | A portrait of Brooklyn firefighter Thomas Kelly painted by artist Peter Max.
The road, which stretches from Sound Avenue through Reeves Park to the north, is also named in honor of Tom Kelly, who had lived in Reeves Park.
Tom Kelly was NYC firefighter who was killed responding to the terror attacks at the World Trade Center.
A memorial in his honor now stands at the corner of Sound Avenue and Park Road/Thomas Kelly Memorial Drive.
This is the third year of the event. Attendees will meet at Marine Street and Park Road/Thomas Kelly Memorial Drive about 7 p.m. and walk to the Sound Avenue.
There will be a short service, probably about 7:30 p.m. at the memorial, organizers said.
Elsewhere on the North Fork Tuesday, there will be a 9/11 memorial flag-placing ceremony at Jean Cochran Park in Peconic.
That event runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Flags will be provided to the public.