Pastor Tricia Calahan of the Cornwall Presbyterian Church reads the invocation at the Patriot Day observance at Chadeayne Circle.
The list of victims keeps growing; the list of heroes is still getting longer. With time, some holidays have lost their meaning, but the Patriot Day observance continues to be relevant.
More than 100 people gathered in Chadeayne Circle at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11. There was less of a crowd than in the past, but every generation was represented.
Maryanne O’Dell, the Town historian, hosted the event. She cited the youngsters in the gathering as a reason for keeping the tradition alive. “They have no story of this day,” she said; “it’s up to us to tell them.”
What’s unique about the story is that it didn’t end on the day of the attack. The rescue and recovery effort produced a new group of victims. County Legislator Kevin Hines referred to them when he stepped up to the microphone. “Many responders are still suffering from respiratory ailments and heart disease,” he said. “We have to support them.”
The county legislator also recognized the workers who are still contributing. He cited two Cornwall residents. Tim Krumm led the recent effort to remove the aircraft remnants that were wedged between two buildings near the World Trade Center. John Schaffner, also known as “Johnny Crane,” was responsible for erecting the spire at the top of the new Freedom Tower.
Mr. Schaffner became a celebrity in May when the spire was completed. But his assignment didn’t end then. He began disassembling the crane that was used for the project. Since all construction stopped on Sept. 11, Mr. Schaffner had a rare day off. He was at the circle with his wife and one of his sons. And he waved to the audience when the county legislator introduced him. “John,” Mr. Hines said, “is a symbol of American labor and American pride.”
Supervisor Kevin Quigley and Mayor Brendan Coyne spoke briefly. Mr. Quigley thanked the Historical Society for keeping the observance alive, and Mayor Coyne commented that “It’s right that we remember the 3,000 victims and the many responders”.
While Hines, Quigley and Coyne have spoken at past observances, James Skoufis was a newcomer to the ceremony at the circle. The youngest member of the state Assembly, Mr. Skoufis was in a freshman history class at Monroe-Woodbury High School when the planes struck the towers. Now, standing in front of the Emergency Services Monument, he commented that Patriot Day was a “reminder of the thanks we owe our emergency responders.”
For the second straight year, members of Cub Scout Pack 6 participated in the ceremony by distributing American flags. Ironically, none of these Scouts were alive when the tragedy occurred.
Other participants: Rev. Patricia Calahan (invocation), Sandra Kehoe (anthem), Abby Mayer (“Taps”), Rev. Andrew Peck-McClain (scripture reading), Rev. Stephen Racite (benediction).
