Sept. 11 Hat Presentation A Reminder Of The Price Of Freedom

On Sept. 9, John Bonforte, Sr. of Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corp., Long Branch, presented 9/11 hats that were purchased from the Wall Of Remembrance to the fire and police departments of Oceanport outside Borough Hall.

The Wall Of Remembrance, located at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, has the distinction of being the only memorial where portraits of the First Responders are displayed within the granite of the wall.

"Oceanport has been very good to me and my family," Bonforte said. He went on to relay how he doesn’t feel that children should be protected from the horrors of Sept. 11, 2001.

"We should let them know what freedom costs. They need to respect the people that keep them safe,” he said. "They need to know why they are able to play freely on their soccer and football fields. They are the future voters."

In attendance for this presentation were Fire Chief Patrick Shaffery, First Assistant Chief Richard Arlt, Second Assistant Chief Ken Carroll, Police Chief Harold Sutton and Police Captain Dan Barcus.

Borough Clerk Kimberly A. Jungfer stood in for Mayor Michael J. Mahon, who was unable to attend.

Some of the police and fire officials shared their experiences on Sept. 11 and how the day has shaped their outlooks.

"I am at a loss for words," Shaffery said. "On 9/11, I was the fire captain for Neptune Township and we were detailed at Allaire Airport. We were there waiting on the transported casualties from Ground Zero but there was an airspace shutdown. We need to maintain a degree of vigilance, especially for the United States and what it stands for. I also learned to appreciate my family and what I have."

"All I care about is safety," added Arlt. "I was at the on 9/11. When the planes hit, all I thought about is when are we going to get there."

"Our guys will wear these hats while on duty this week," Sutton said. "On 9/11, I was a captain. That day definitely changed the way we do business. When the second plane hit, we started checking to see where our guys were. Fort Monmouth became much more secure. was looked at as a target. We set up command centers for big events. You could see the smoke from the Pleasure Bay Bridge!"

"On 9/11, I was a patrolman working the nightshift," Barcus said. "I was living with my in-laws and my father-in-law woke me up when the first plane hit. I was astonished! My father had just retired from the force and my brother was a patrolman in Mantoloking. I was calling around to see where everyone was."

Just as the Wall Of Remembrance wasn’t erected for the sake of mourning, neither was this presentation. It is a celebration of the men and women that work at keeping us safe. A good number of these people are volunteers. These hats are intended to be a reminder of the price that we pay for our freedom. And for those that were too young to have experienced it, a reminder to respect those that protect their freedom.