Photos: North Fork Community Marks 15th Anniversary of 9/11 With Silence, Tears, Unity

PECONIC, NY — A somber ceremony marked by tears and reflection brought the Southold Town community together Sunday in a moving tribute to honor those who lost their lives 15 years ago during the terror attacks on 9/11.

"We will never forget." The words echoed silently in the stillness as the entire crowd gathered engaged in moments of complete silence, to mark the times, 9:59 a.m. and 10:28 a.m., when each of the Towers fell on the darkest of days.

American Legion Post 803 posted the colors, and the Southold High School chorus, under the direction of Kelli Baumann, sang in heartfelt harmony.

Cutchogue Fire Department Chaplain Tom Roslak led the Lord's Prayer, and said 9/11 was a day not only to remember the evil and "horrific" events, but also, to recall the acts of courage by firefighters, EMS workers, and "ordinary people," who risked their lives to help others.

"May those who survive feel gratitude, not guilt. Help us to remember what it means to be American," he said.

Southold Town's 9/11 committee, including Tracey Orlando and the Fire Chiefs Council, hosted the event on Sunday at Jean Cochran Park, to mark the 15th anniversary of the terror attacks that changed the world forever.

"We will rise, no matter what happens," Orlando said.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell addressed those in attendance and said that after 15 years, the community gathered to remember almost 3,000 lives lost, to honor those victims, and to remember the heroes.

Even today, he said, the repercussions are felt among those rescue workers who toiled tirelessly in the pile at Ground Zero, digging for survivors.

It took 10 years, he said, for those suffering health issues after 9/11 to be recognized in 2011, when President Obama signed into law the James L. Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act.

"As a nation, we have to do better than that," Russell said.

Even in the face of evil, the supervisor said, the nation and community was market by resiliency. "We cannot be defeated," he said, adding that, as a new generation of children has been born since 9/11, "We are doing it for the youth."

Each of the flags fluttering in the breeze, Orlando said, was placed in memory of a soul lost.

The program followed the same format as the 10 year anniversary ceremony: All North Fork fire departments participated, marking the time the buildings fell with ringing of 15 bells for each of the 15 years, at 9:59 a.m. and again at 10:28 a.m..

Flags were available at the park to commemorate each of the lives lost.

At the conclusion of the 9/11 ceremony, all local fire departments presented their wreath and paid their respects at the Southold Volunteer Firefighters Memorial.

Southold students, Southold's Griswold-Terry-Glover American Legion Post 803, and Girl Scouts of Service Unit #60 also participated in the event.