'Let us pause to remember'

By Roger Gavan
WARWICK — Fourteen years ago on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, all bound for California and loaded with fuel, to attack the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and an unknown target in Washington, D.C.

That last plan was foiled by the brave actions of the passengers on United Flight 93 out of Newark, which included one Warwick resident, Linda Gronlund, when it crashed in a western Pennsylvania field.

On this Sept. 11, at 8:30 a.m. American Legion Post 214 Commander Laura Smykla welcomed local residents, public officials, veterans, members of the Warwick Police, Ambulance Corps and Fire Departments, representatives of the Warwick Citizens World Trade Center Memorial Committee and others gathered in Veterans Memorial Park.

Bells told at 8:46 a.m.They were there, as they have gathered every year on this day since the attack, to honor the victims, especially those who lived in Warwick.

The Rev. Jim Erwin, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, gave the invocation.

At precisely 8:46 a.m.,Warwick's Dutch Reformed Church, according to its tradition since the first anniversary of 9-11, sounded its bells.

It was the time the first aircraft struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Just prior to that, everyone stood silently, heads bowed, as Walt Parkinson read the names of the local residents who perished in the attacks.

John Woloszcak struck a bell for each victim beginning with Cynthia Wilson. Her name is not inscribed on the Warwick Citizens World Trade Center Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park but she was in the process of moving to Warwick at that time.

Parkinson also invited those present to name any others they wished to honor and several people responded.

'Let us pause'Guests who spoke briefly that morning included Warwick Town Deputy Supervisor James Gerstner who offered his remarks and also read a written statement by Supervisor Michael Sweeton, who was away on business.

"Let us pause on this September 11th," wrote Sweeton, "to remember the brave lives lost and send our prayers, thoughts and best wishes to the families so that they may have some comfort on this solemn day."

Other speakers included Warwick Mayor Michael Newhard and a few attendees like Steve Peculic, a survivor of the attack who was working at the World Trade Center for the Morgan Stanley firm at the time. He praised the police, firefighters and EMS workers who risk their lives, then and today, to serve their communities.

'Gold bless America'Newhard described the ordinary people who went to work that fateful day as becoming patriots and heroes.

Before the ceremony concluded, Smykla again invited those present to name any veteran or person currently serving in the military they wished to honor and more than a few responded.

"This is the greatest country in the world," shouted Patrick Colman, a native of Ireland. "God bless America."

The ceremony ended shortly after 9:03 a.m., the time the second aircraft struck the World Trade Center.

Tony Cosimano played taps and shortly afterwards, the crowd dispersed in silence.