The people of Patchogue were invited to a special ceremony on the Great South Bay Tuesday, where officials unveiled the village’s new Sept. 11, 2001, memorial park.
The village was able to build the park using part of a $5 million donation it received in 2015 from an anonymous benefactor for a village-wide parks overhaul.
It was developed on Sandy-damaged land acquired through the state, and features new grass, a stone walkway that leads into the circular memorial to a three-story flag pole, flowers and shrubs, and four memorial monuments mounted to boulders (photos below).
There’s also a paved walking path that encircles the boulders and monuments, one each dedicated to terror victims Eric Adam Stahlman, Alfred Russell Maler and FDNY Lt. Michael Healey.
Both Stahlman and Maler worked at Cantor Fitzgerald and lived in Patchogue.
“Sept. 11, 2001, is a day that changed our lives forever, for the Stahlman family, for the Maler family, for the Healey family, the reminder of that day is seared in their hearts,” said Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri. “As we stand here, we remember that day, friends and family lost and our sense of security shaken.”
Pontieri explained that the planned renovations and upgrades at nearby Shorefront Park forced the village to relocate its modest 9/11 memorials. But that afforded the opportunity to dedicate an entire park to the memories of those last that day.
There’s also a fourth monument dedicated to all those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania 17 years ago.
“This space is also to remind us of all the men and women in the military who have been lost in battles to secure our freedoms,” the mayor added.
“Lest we never forget,” Pontieri said.
Local veterans organizations and Patchogue-Medford High School choir singers also partook in the ceremony, which started at 11 a.m. and lasted about a half hour.
Town Supervisor Ed Romaine was in attendance as well.
“What a beautiful spot this is; it talks to the beauty of this village and to Patchogue,” Romaine said. “How beautiful that this spot is dedicated to those who were lost on 9/11.”
The park is located on Maiden Lane at the end of Cedar Avenue and is open from dawn to dusk.
