New Park and Strong Spirit Bring Town Together at Little Silver's 'Forever In Our Hearts' Vigil

Young children, a product of life and love after Sept. 11, laughed and played Sunday night on the grass at Memorial Park in Little Silver, where residents came to honor the three of their own lost 10 years ago in the New York terrorist attacks.

The park, dedicated just this year, is still growing into its own. It is the culmination of a community effort spearheaded by the Shade Tree Commission. Four markers here are dedicated to those who perished in the 2001 attacks. Members of the borough's police and fire departments and first aid squad laid flowers at markers for Karl Smith, Tim Betterly and Michael Arczynski. A fourth bouquet was laid by residents for all the other Americans lost that day.

Newly sworn in Mayor Robert Neff officiated the brief ceremony, entititled Forever in Our Hearts, which featured a bag pipe rendition of Amazing Grace by Tim Lang, a bell ringing by the fire department and vocal performances by Red Bank Regional performing arts students Maddy Monaghan and Ellie Swartz.

Maddy sang the national anthem and Ellie, God Bless America. Although each young lady sang with beauty and strength, neither sang alone. With the first note of each song, the crowd raised their voices along with the girls, a community joined together.

Little Silver police and fire Chaplain Thomas Pallone gave the invocation, his message solemn and hopeful. "Ten years," he said, "not nearly enough time to blunt the grief..." But, he said, it would be with a sense of community, faith and patriotism that the residents would learn to "accomodate this tragedy into the rythmn of our lives."

"We are not alone," he said. "God is with us."