Eleven years ago, New York - along with the rest of the country - was devastated by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Many locals from Bellmore and Merrick were affected, and many have shared their stories with Patch.
To remember the 11th anniversary, Patch compiled a list of stories about how Bellmore and Merrick have remembered those affected in years past:
11. Changed By 9/11: The Gies Family: Ronnie Gies was 43 when he was lost in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.Gies was a Merrick resident and a city firefighter with Squad Co. 288 in Maspeth, Queens. He was also a volunteer firefighter and ex-chief of the Merrick Fire Department.
10. Merrick Schools Pay Tribute to Anniversary of 9/11: Each of the three elementary schools, Chatterton, Birch and Levy Lakeside, all hosted simple ceremonies that started at 9 a.m. and lasted about 15 minutes. Although the schools each put their own twist on the ceremonies, one thing was constant – all of the schools said the pledge together in a show of solidarity.
9. VIDEO: Ground Zero Steel Delivered to Merrick FD: The Merrick Fire Department had two steel girders from Ground Zero delivered to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The girders were used in two memorials to that were erected in the Merrick area, one at the Friendship Engine and Hose Company on Meadowbrook Road, the other at the Merrick Avenue firehouse.
8. VIDEO: North Merrick Gathers to Honor Victims and Heroes: At the gathering, a new monument to honor those from Merrick that perished in the terror attacks ten years ago was unveiled. A stone from the foundation of the Twin Towers was placed on top of a piece of metal from the World Trade Center. Flowers were placed around the monument to mark those 16 Merokeans who did not come home that day.
7. VIDEO: North Merrick Schools Use Anniversary of 9/11 to Salute Heroes: Each of the three schools took on the task of teaching students about the terror attacks on the World Trade Center as well as honoring the spirit of what the day means for many Americans.
6. VIDEO: Merrick Fire Department Holds 9/11 Memorial Service: To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the Merrick Fire Departmentheld an emotional ceremony of remembrance to pay tribute to the brave fallen members of their ranks, taken from their lives and loved ones on that tragic day.
5. North Bellmore Remembers Sept. 11: The fire department unveiled a memorial near the Engine Company No. 2 fire house at 829 Newbridge Road. A memorial also stands in front of the Engine Company No. 1 fire house at 1500 Newbridge Road.
4. VIDEO: Hempstead Town Remembers 10th Anniversary of 9/11: To mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Town of Hempstead performed a special early morning ceremony along the shores of Lido Beach.
3. Candlelight Vigil Remembers 9/11 Victims: Victims’ families and other local residents flocked to the Nassau County Sept. 11 Memorial, located in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, to remember those lost with a candlelight vigil.
2. Bellmore Little League Remembers 9/11 With Candlelight Vigil: The Bellmore Little League hosted a candlelight vigil to remember and honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
1. Bellmore FD Honors Their Fallen on 9/11 Anniversary: Victoria Bancke was in the first grade on Sept. 11. Now, she's a proud member of the Bellmore Fire Department as a junior firefighter. Bancke was one of many on hand for the wreath ceremony, held in honor of those who'd fallen on that fateful day.
What are your thoughts on the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks? Tell us in the comments below.
