Crowd at memorial ceremony was larger than expected
There was no official head count on Sept. 11. Most people described the crowd by saying, “It was a lot bigger than I expected.” All of the spectators wore masks.
The annual observance took place at Cornwall’s Chadeayne Circle at 6 p.m. The Highland Engine Co. organized the event and tried to keep the program brief. There were just three speakers, less than in other years, and all of them referred to what happened after the attacks.
Pastor Stephen Racite of the Cornwall Baptist Church offered the invocation. He’s the company chaplain and an active firefighter.
“I thank you, Father,” he said, “for the unity we had in the aftermath. And I ask that You restore that to us.”
Senator James Skoufis also referred to the country coming together, and compared the experience to the community’s reaction to the current pandemic. The senator was stricken by COVID19 in the spring, and was sick for two weeks. During that time, his new neighbors in Cornwall brought food to his house and sent messages and prayers. Senator Skoufis also commented on the size of the crowd.
“The Town of Cornwall always comes out on this night,” he said.
Kevin Hines hosted the program. He’s a member of the fire company in addition to being a county legislator. He referred to the monument that’s a tribute to the late Ken Kumpel and the other people who lost their lives in the World Trade Center. The monument includes patches from Mr. Kumpel’s fire companies. He served in New Hyde Park and New York City, and volunteered with the Highland Engine Co. from 1995 to 2001.
“Ken enjoyed training new firefighters,” Mr. Hines observed. Mr. Hines also mentioned the “343” on the monument, which refers to the number of first responders who were killed on Sept. 11. Tragically, that number has grown in the aftermath as several policemen and firefighters have succumbed to diseases that were caused by the toxic fumes they inhaled during the cleanup.
The program ended with the singing of “God Bless America.” The COVID restrictions kept the fire company from inviting the public into the fire house for refreshments. But the crowd took a while to disperse. People chatted with one another and several approached the monument to read the inscription and take pictures.
