Orange County announces Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony

GOSHEN — The community is invited to attend the Sept. 11 Patriot Day ceremony to be held at the Orange County Arboretum at Thomas Bull Memorial Park on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 5 p.m.

The ceremony will honor the memory of the 44 Orange County residents who lost their lives on that tragic day and pay tribute to the brave military personnel who have served our nation. Families and survivors of Sept. 11, families of local military personnel and veterans are invited to participate in the remembrance ceremony and join the procession by assembling at the Arboretum’s Ottaway Education Center at 4:30 p.m.

Honor guards from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, Stewart Air National Guard Base 105 Air Wing and Post #2064 Veterans of Foreign War - Maybrook will guide the procession along the Remembrance Walkway flanked by members of the Orange County Volunteer Fire Services.

Orange County Undersheriff Kenneth T. Jones, accompanied by the Ancient Order of Hibernians of Orange County will lead the families and survivors to their seats located near the Sept. 11 Memorial and Military Tribute.

The Goshen Fire Department, under the direction of Chief Dan Caplicki, will hoist a Garrison to serve as a backdrop to the ceremonies, while local fire companies, law enforcement, veterans groups, and emergency responders line the walkway.

Patriotic music and prayers will open the ceremony.

This year’s guest speaker will be Edie McCoy Meeks, RN, 1 Lieutenant, Army Nurse Corps. combat surgical nurse and Vietnam veteran. Meeks is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation and Purple Heart Hall of Honor, is a member of Rolling Thunder NY Chapter 3, American Legion, 1 Cavalry Division Association of New York and New Jersey, and Veterans for Peace.

Following the ceremony, a Peace through Music concert will be held in the raised gardens of the Arboretum with the Otisville Brass.

The Sept. 11 Memorial features a 10-foot granite globe that rotates as it hydroplanes in a pool of water with the names of the 44 local heroes identified on bronze plaques along the perimeter of the pool. The Military Tribute monument is dedicated to those who have served, are serving, and will be serving our Country.

The Orange County Arboretum is open daily from dawn to dusk and located at 41 Grove St., Campbell Hall, within the Thomas Bull Memorial Park, State Route 416. For additional information, call 845-615-3824 or visit www.orangecountynyparks.com or www.orangecountyarboretum.org.