Commemorating 9/11 in the Pleasantville-Briarcliff Area

Wednesday, Sept. 11 marks the 12th anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks of 9/11/01, but the memories of that day are still at the forefront of locals' minds.

Briarcliff Manor Police Officer Tom Farrington previously shared with Patch his memories of responding to Ground Zero that day, saying, "I'll never forget it."

According to a statement from Westchester County, "One hundred and eleven Westchester residents and 12 former residents lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attack on Sept. 11."

Among them is former FDNY firefighter and Pleasantville resident Lt. Charles Garbarini, who is remembered through a documentary produced by his wife, Andrea Garbarini, titled From the Ground Up.

Pleasantville resident and photographer Chad Kraus was in Manhattan the day of the attack and captured the emotional responses of people on the streets. View his powerful photographs here.

Westchester County and the Volunteer Center of the United Way kicked off a week-long volunteering initiative last week in Pleasantville to give locals a chance to mark the anniversary in a productive, meaningful way.

There will be a blood drive Wednesday at the County Center in White Plains from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and an ongoing food drive at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla from 12 to 6:30 p.m.

Other opportunities to give back include writing 'Letters for Our Heroes" from 1 to 3 p.m. at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry and bringing gently used sporting equipment to Kensico Dam's donation box from 12 to 6:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, the volunteer initiative will culminate with a twilight ceremony at Kensico Dam Plaza's The Rising 9/11 memorial.

The 7 p.m. candlelight ceremony will include the dedication of a Ground Zero Beam of Remembrance, the reading of the names of 9/11 family members, singing of the National Anthem and God Bless America by Westchester resident and American Idol finalist Melinda Ademi and remarks by county officials.

In Ossining, town and village emergency responders and officials are coming together for a 7 p.m. Remembrance Ceremony at Louis Engel Park on the waterfront.

Also at 7 p.m., the Hawthorne Fire Department will be hosting its own 'Never Forget 9/11' ceremony at its headquarters. The Hawthorne American Legion Post 112 will be co-sponsoring the ceremony.


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