 |
| May 05, 2024 |
Welcome! Click here to Login
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Click to visit the
Official Town Site
|
|
|
|
|
|
General News: Sacrifices of 9-11 Remembered
|
| People gathered on Chadeayne Circle for the remembrance ceremony. |
|
| Cornwall police chief Todd Hazard prepares to lay a wreath at the memorial. |
|
| Members of the American Legion Post 353 saluted the fallen. |
|
| Annmarie Sumski sang God Bless America. |
September 12, 2010
Brendan G. Coyne
The shadow of a huge American flag hanging from a ladder truck across the front of the Highland Fire Company #1 blanketed the gathering for the annual Cornwall 9/11 Memorial Service Saturday evening at Chadeayne traffic circle. Maryanne O'Dell of the Cornwall Historical Society welcomed the more than 150 adults and children, then she led the Pledge of Allegiance.
In a brief ceremony, residents, first responders and government officials remembered Kenneth B. Kumpel, of Cornwall, a member of the New York Fire Department, and the nearly 3,000 people who died Sept. 11, 2001 during the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.
Father Thomas E.C. Margrave, pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church and Highland Engine Company chaplain, gave the invocation. His words recalled the many faith traditions represented among those who died that day. He prayed for Cornwall native General David H. Petraeus who is leading the troops in Afghanistan.
Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun called 9/11 a day of infamy, comparing it to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. "We come together ecumenically," said Calhoun. "In coming together, we give strength to those who lost loved ones that day. It is fitting that we re-affirm what the United States stands for."
Kevin Hines, Orange County legislator and member of the Highland Engine Company, recalled the Oct. 13, 2001 memorial service for Kumpel, who was also a member of Highland Engine Company. That service was held on the Cornwall-on-Hudson riverbank and the fireboat John J. Harvey, which played a critical role in battling the fires of 9/11, came up from the New York City to honor Kumpel. Hines said that when the fireboat pumped water, a rainbow appeared and photographer Michael Nelson captured the moment. Hines presented framed copies of the photo to the town of Cornwall, the village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, Assemblywoman Calhoun and the historical society. He asked officials to hang the photos in their offices to prompt discussion of 9/11 and keep its memory alive.
Members of the town and village fire departments and police departments and the Cornwall Volunteer Ambulance Corps placed ceremonial wreaths around the monument honoring first responders. Members of the Cornwall American Legion Post 353 provided a rifle salute and Abby Mayer played taps.
"As we leave this place," said Margrave in his benediction, "may we take away both this community's pride in remembering the sacrifice of this day and the determination to build a nation stronger in justice and more secure in its diversity."
Then seventh-grader Annemarie Sumski sang "God Bless America." And in less than 15 minutes, the ceremony was over and the crowd walked across the circle to the firehouse for fellowship and refreshment.
Comments:
No comments have been posted.
Add a Comment:
Please signup or login to add a comment.
|
 |
|
|
|
