St. Michael's Cemetery Holds Yearly 9/11 Memorial Service
The Queens Gazette 8/26/09
"The focus is on families this year," Edward Horn, director of community affairs at St. Michael's Cemetery, 72-02 Astoria Blvd., East Elmhurst, said of the cemetery's eighth annual 9/11 memorial service. On Saturday, September 12, at 2 p.m., families and friends will join in honoring and remembering the members of the New York City Fire Department, Police Department and Port Authority Police Department who died responding to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
A video presentation of the first responders' heroism will be shown in a continuous loop while any family members of the 9/11 responders can speak if they choose. The names of the 76 Queens firefighters, 23 NYPD officers and the 37 PAPD officers will be read aloud.
A monument to the firefighters was dedicated in 2004, to the PAPD officers in 2006 and to the NYPD officers in 2007. In 2008 a permanent memorial to all New York City and Port Authority First Responders, including members of the New York City Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department and the New York City Fire Department lost in the line of duty from 1995 to date, with the exception of those lost on 9/11 was dedicated.
Retired New York City Fire Department Deputy Chief Alexander Santora and his wife, Maureen, will be among the family members speaking. The interment of their only son, Christopher Santora, at 23 years of age the youngest firefighter to die at Ground Zero was the impetus for the creation of the monuments honoring the memory of the members of the separate service agencies from Queens who died on 9/11.
While family members and friends will make up most of the memorial ceremony participants, Horn stressed that the service is open to any and all who wish to come and remember. Gazette Publisher Tony Barsamian will serve as master of ceremonies. The event is supported by Gus Antonopoulos of Farenga & Sons Funeral Home, 38-08 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria.
For more information about the memorial service, call Ed Horn, director of community relations at St. Michael's Cemetery, 72-02 Astoria Blvd., East Elmhurst; 718-278-3240.
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