Moving North Fork Tribute To 9/11 Heroes: 'We Will Always Remember'

NORTH FORK, NY — A crowd gathered Monday night at Cochran Park in Peconic to place flags and pay solemn tribute to those who lost their lives on 9/11, 22 years ago.

Those who lived through those dark days were joined by Scouts and toddlers too young to remember the terror attacks, but who will grow up learning about the legacy of courage and heroism left behind.

The Southold Town Fire Chiefs' Council organized the Southold Town Firefighters' Memorial and Remembrance Ceremony. Mattituck, Cutchogue, Southold, Greenport, East Marion, Orient, Plum Island, Fishers Island, and Shelter Island Fire Departments came together to pay respect and to lay a wreath as in past years.

Also the Southold 9/11 Memorial Committee provided 2,977 flags to the public, to be placed throughout the park in memory of the souls lost on that dark day.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell addressed those gathered: "22 years ago yet, still very vivid in our minds. The sadness, the raw emotions of that day, will never leave our minds," he said. "However, we are not here today to remember the horror of that day."

Instead, Russell said, "We are here to remember the victims that we lost, the heroism and the bravery that we witnessed. The courage and the commitment of firefighters, police officers and first responders who acted out of instinct — out of impulse, because rushing to the aid of others was all they knew. Like the heroes who stand around me today. The courage of the passengers of Flight 93."

The supervisor also conveyed a message to the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"To all the victims we lost — to those we never got to say good-bye to. To those who lost a parent, a child, a loved one. We stand with you today. We are here today to keep our promise to all of those who we lost: We will never forget. We will always remember."

Larry Behr, who helped to organize the event with the fire chiefs council, also addressed those gathered.

Russell added that despite the threat of rain, the weather cooperated. "The event was as moving as it was solemn," he said. "It's always good to see Tracey Orlando there, organizing such a fantastic display of flags."

Orlando, chair of the Southold 9/11 Memorial Committee, reflected on the ceremony. "It's a strange responsibility to be the chairperson of a memorial for a community, but it is my greatest privilege. The flags and mementos left by loved ones are kept and protected in my home every year. And it is a privilege to know that they represent the people we want to remember."

Every year, Orlando said people comment that the memorial service continues to grow with time, not diminish. "That's because our wonderful community understands that we are all a part of this memorial. We all lost someone because we're Americans."