Remembering 9/11: Today's Children Are Tomorrow's Volunteers

In memory of the tenth anniversary of Sept. 11, Oceanport resident John Bonforte, Sr. recently gave officials from the Long Branch fire department a large number of 9/11 baseball caps purchased from the Wall of Remembrance in Brooklyn.

The hats are a tribute to the 343 New York City firefighters who gave their lives to serve the greater community.

Sept. 11 is a day we all experienced in one way or another. It is a day most grown-ups will not forget. But what about the young people, who were not born yet, or were too young to understand what was happening?

"We donate these hats to the men and women of our community with a special thought in mind," said Bonforte, who is President and founder of Monmouth Rubber, a Long Branch rubber and plastics manufacturing factory. “That our young people will be made aware of the sacrifices that were made so that they can enjoy living in a free society. Eventually they will be the generation that will carry the torch and vote to decide the future of our country. Our hope is they will also remember this eventful day and they will maintain and support the fine institutions and people that work selflessly to keep America the great country that it is."

We are very lucky to live in the United States of America. Just ask my 16-year-old son, with a group of students from . They spent two weeks in Nicaragua, where they performed a community service project, helping to build a classroom for kindergarten kids. They are not taking anything for granted, especially not running water, let me assure you.

But what do these kids know of the sacrifice that our fire, police, and first responders gave when our country was attacked on September 11th, 2001, when they were 5 and 6 six years old?

With that in mind, Monmouth Rubber purchased over 100 hats to honor the heroic first responders who gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Bonforte gave 75 hats to Long Branch last week, and will present Oceanport with 25 at the this weekend.

Colored red, white or blue, the hats bear NYFD and NYPD insignia and reference the Wall of Remembrance, a memorial to the fallen heroes of 9/11 located on the west wall of the Ballpark at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

The Wall of Remembrance Foundation holds events annually:

• Palm Sunday Interfaith Service
• First Responder Night at the Ballpark
• September 10^th Candlelight Service

For more information, please visit  www.brooklywall.us

"Without the support of local businesses we have nothing. Thank you John and Monmouth Rubber, it is people like you who will help bring out the next generation of volunteers," Kevin Hayes, Long Branch Fire Marshal, said upon accepting the hats.