Brooklyn remembers 9/11 in series of events

Fourteen years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Brooklynites are still proving they won’t ever forget with a series of events being hosted throughout the borough for locals to pay respects and remember.

State Senator Marty Golden will host his annual 9/11 memorials to commemorate the 14th anniversary on Friday, September 11: a memorial in Marine Park, 3000 Fillmore Avenue, by the flagpole at 6 p.m. and a memorial on the American Veterans Memorial 69^th Street Pier, at Shore Road and Bay Ridge Avenue, at 7:30 p.m.

Both ceremonies will feature a patriotic program that will include 21-gun salute and a candle-lighting vigil.

“In the minutes following the attacks of September 11, almost instantly our community joined together to help those in need,” Golden said.  “Many of us lost someone we knew, neighbors, friends and colleagues, yet we responded in strength to help our city in the darkest days. That is why it is so important that we are together to remember those lost and console those who were left behind.”

Also on Friday, September 11, the 14^th Annual Bill Brown Park 9/11 Anniversary Memorial will take place starting at 6:30 p.m. near the Avenue X and Bedford Avenue entrance. Attendees pay their respects near the park’s painted mural on the handball court.

“Unfortunately, crowds have dwindled,” said Brooklyn/Bedford Park 9/11 Memorial Committee member Tina Gray. “But despite the dwindling crowds, we feel compelled for ourselves to remember the names on walls. At least we know we’re remembering that day.” A committee member’s daughter died during the attacks.

This year, a photographer of 9/11 memorials will make an appearance. “Jonathan Hyman traveled around the world photographing all sorts of memorials and murals and published The Landscapes of 9/11: A Photographer’s Journey,” Gray said. “Our mural is included in the book as well as the 9/11 memorial. We are very honored.”

On Saturday, September 12 at 5 p.m., Saint Ephrem’s Roman Catholic Church will hold its annual event at its Garden of Hope, which features a statue of the twin towers embraced by the Good Shepherd. It will begin outside with a brief service and blessing of the memorial, followed by mass in the church.

“Our community lost nine people, including my mother. We felt that we as a community needed to do something to remember,” said Mary Jane LaVache, the co-chair of the group that came together to work on the Memorial Garden. “Families were consulted for input on the garden and it resulted in something special as it’s a tribute to the nine people lost. Our faith was key in what we were thinking about when thinking about family members that were lost.”

At Brooklyn Bridge Park, Bargemusic will hold a free Memorial Concert, on Friday, September 11 at 8 p.m., led by its director, the violinist Mark Peskanov, featuring music by Bach, Haydn, Schubert and Chopin. There’s no reserved seating. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Earlier, the city’s heroes will be remembered during the Annual 9/11 Memorial Prayer which will be held in front of the 70th Precinct on Friday, September 11, beginning with a prayer at 8:46 am, the time Flight 11 Crashed into the World Trade Center.