9/11 Deserves A Federal Holiday, Say Monmouth County Officials

FREEHOLD, NJ — The Monmouth County Sept. 11 memorial ceremony took place Sunday at Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook in Atlantic Highlands, with those who lost loved ones from Monmouth County on September 11, 2001 joined by the The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners and other officials.

And the anniversary prompted a call by county officials to make Sept. 11 an official holiday.

“It is the job of each and every one of us here to make sure our youth realize the importance of this day and the history of this day,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, according to a news release about the event.

"On behalf of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, I am calling on state and federal legislators to make Sept. 11 an official holiday to honor the victims, first responders, volunteers and all who were affected by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001," Arnone said in a separate news release Sunday.

At the ceremony, in addition to the families and residents in attendance, the Board of County Commissioners was joined by Atlantic Watch Pipe and Drum Band; the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Honor Guard; Wall Township High School students Ava Minall, Karina Minall and Nicole DiRocco; Knights of Columbus Council 11660 Highlands; the Count Basie Center Gospel Choir, the Rev. Garry Koch of St. Benedict Catholic Church and the Rev. Ronald Sparks of Bethel AME Church.

"Those of us who lived through the attacks of 9/11 will never forget, but we now need to make sure that our children, and their children, understand the importance of this day. The events of 9/11 should be in every history book in our schools and there should be an official holiday to make the magnitude of this day clear," Arnone said.

"We need to acknowledge a day of rest and remembrance so that everyone is given the opportunity to observe 9/11, whether that be by attending a ceremony, visiting a local memorial, thanking a first responder or talking to our children about what happened on 9/11," he added.

At the anniversary ceremony, Commissioner Ross F. Licitra, liaison to the Monmouth County Park System, commented, saying “During the incredible tragedy and heartache of September 11, 2001, we saw extraordinary courage and sincere compassion. We saw that beacon of hope."

“We honor all of these brave Americans at this 9/11 memorial ceremony, and knowing that the perpetrators of violence and terrorism never take a holiday—nor can we," said Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), according to the county news release.

The 12-acre Mount Mitchill Overlook is home to the Monmouth County’s 9/11 Memorial which is a tribute to the 147 men and women who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. The path leading to the memorial chronicles the events of that day and at the center is the light stone sculpture of an eagle by local artist Franco Minervini. This eagle grasps a beam from the World Trade Center, according to the county.

At 266 feet, the overlook in Atlantic Highlands sits on the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic seaboard (excluding islands) from Maine to the Yucatan providing views of Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and the New York skyline, the county parks information says.