New generation continues a community tradition
Before the Patriot Day observance began, people left bouquets of flowers at the 9/11 memorial. Greg and Carl Kumpel spent hours polishing the monument’s plaque. Cadets from NYMA made a traditional four-mile run through town. And two young brothers left a note for the late Ken Kumpel – a local firefighter who died during the rescue attempt.
The sky on Saturday evening was as blue and cloudless as it had been 20 years ago. The crowd at Chadeayne Circle was larger than in recent years.
Residents were abiding by their promise to “never forget,” which means sharing their experience with younger generations.
Pastor Stephen Racite in his invocation referred to the “generation that needs to be reminded.” And Supervisor Richard Randazzo, in his annual remarks, recalled visiting Ground Zero with his grown-up granddaughter from Texas, who noted that she wasn’t born until three months after the attacks.
Kevin Hines, as an officer of the Highland Engine Company, served as the host for the observance. He knew Ken Kumpel as a volunteer at the local fire house. “He loved training younger firefighters,” Mr. Hines recalled.
As part of his remarks, Mr. Hines described the funeral for Mr. Kumpel, and the campaign to build the monument. He said that Ken’s wife (Nancy) would have paid for the memorial, “but that’s not how we do things in Cornwall.”
When the community raised more money than was needed, Mrs. Kumpel used the extra cash to provide additional scholarships for graduating seniors.
Between the speakers and the audience (of 250 people), the fire company set up a table with photographs of Mr. Kumpel and the riverside tribute that followed his funeral. Some of the young Scouts visited the table when the ceremony was over.
Mayor Jim Gagliano knew two FBI agents who died in the inferno. “Every one of us felt a loss on that day,” the mayor said. He also focused on Sept. 12, 2001, when we were neither Democrats nor Repub-licans, but came together as Americans – which is what we can truly be again.
Assemblyman Colin Schmitt was in school when the planes struck the towers. “It impacts our days till the end of time,” he told the audience. Village Trustee Bill Braine recalled the long lines of people waiting to donate blood. And American Legion Commander Peter Kurpeawski observed that the attacks “ushered in a new era of patriotism.” Citizens wore patches and pins of the American flag. But they don’t do it any more, causing the commander to ask “where have all the flags of 9/11 gone.”
There were several Scouts at the ceremony. Many of them placed wreaths at the monument. They heard tributes to the heroes of 9/11 and the days that followed. But they may have missed a tribute from two brothers who were their contemporaries, or possibly even younger. They left a note on the base of the monument that read, “Thank you, Firefighter Kumple, love Sean and Brian Cresci.”
The spelling did not detract from the sentiment.
