County To Hold Private Ceremony For New 9/11 Responders Memorial

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Westchester County will unveil a new memorial dedicated to the local first responders who lost their lives to 9/11-related illnesses.

"This memorial is the culmination of a promise this County government made to the families and loved ones of these true Westchester heroes," County Executive George Latimer said in a statement. "We will not ever take for granted the actions of these individuals and hope that each person who visits this memorial understands their lasting impact.”

Westchester is among the first governments to create such a monument, county officials said.

The Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial overlooks The Rising, the county's 9/11 monument, at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla.

The annual public event at The Rising will start at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 11. On Friday, family and friends of those lost will have a private ceremony at the new memorial.

The 9/11 First Responders Memorial is made up of granite stones set on a stone veneer wall. Each stone is etched with the names of the Westchester first responders lost to 9/11 related illnesses. It is designed to complement the stonework of the dam and surround The Rising as an eternal watch.

Each wall is 20 feet long and will hold up to four 4-foot-long memorial stones each. A light — which will be known as the Eternal Light — is centered between the two walls and directly across the entrance to The Rising. This light will be on 24/7 to signify the light shone on the county by those this memorial intends to honor.

The design of the memorial was completed by the County’s Department of Planning. Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation and a committee made up of loved ones of those lost to 9/11-related illnesses. The committee was co-chaired by New York City Police Officer Matthew J. McCauley and NYPD Sgt. Peter Woods — who lost his battle to a 9/11 related illness earlier this year. Construction was done by R. Pugni and Sons, Inc.

"On the eve of the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks we are reminded of the nearly 3,000 lives that were lost that day, including those from Westchester County who are memorialized at 'The Rising'," McCauley said. "Unfortunately, the toll of those lost continues to increase due to 9/11 related illnesses that have claimed so many of our 9/11 First Responders."

As the co-chair of a committee made up of widows, children, other family members, friends and first responders, McCauley applauded Latimer and his team for supporting the vision.

"This permanent memorial alongside 'The Rising' will ensure that the sacrifice of all lost that day and thereafter is never forgotten," he said.

The committee members:

• Peter Woods, Co-Chair
• Matthew McCauley, Co-Chair
• Georgia Asciutto
• Valerie Sullivan
• Anne Byrnes
• Margaret O’Hanlon
• Chelsea Wilson
• Patricia Mallinson
• Ellen Peifer
• Sabrina Douglass
• Chief Andrew Sandor, New Rochelle Fire Department
• Firefighter Robert Barbella, White Plains Fire Department
• Carol Ann Gleason
• Andrew Mentrasti
• Sara Trujillo
• Kevin McGuire
• Firefighter Sandra Bessels, Harrison Fire Department
• Firefighter Robert Curtin, Mount Vernon Fire Department

This committee, through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, met regularly to plan this new memorial. The work done by them, to honor their loved ones, will be forever cherished by the people of Westchester County, Latimer said.

Latimer and first responders from the region will unveil the memorial to the public during the County’s 9/11 ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The full list of names included in this first round of engraving include:

· Firefighter - Gary S Allo – White Plains Fire Department

· Police Officer – Christopher M Barry – NYPD

· Sergeant - Patrick J Boyle – NYPD

· Sergeant - Patrick T Coyne – NYPD

· Battalion - Chief Kevin R Byrnes – FDNY

· John M Cozza – Construction Industry

· Emergency Medical Technician – Luis De Pena, Jr – FDNY

· Police Officer Kenneth X Domenech – NYPD

· Police Officer Nicholas G Finelli - NYPD

· Lieutenant - Clark W Douglass – White Plains Fire Department

· Firefighter – Daniel R Foley – FDNY

· Detective - Mark S Gado – New Rochelle Police Department

· Richard A Grace – Construction Industry

· Commissioner Peter S Guyett – Yonkers Fire Department

· Firefighter – Herbert D Harriott – Rye Fire Department

· Police Officer – Joseph F Heid – NYPD

· Detective – Michael A Houlahan – NYPD

· John A Lo Bianco – Construction Industry

· Police Officer – Anthony Maggiore – Yonkers Police Department

· Executive Director – Stephan Hittmann – FDNY

· Fire Fighter – Gary S Martin – White Plains Fire Department

· Lieutenant – Roy D McLaughlin – Yonkers Police Department

· Firefighter – Robert A Mentrasti – Fairview Fire Department

· Detective – James W Monahan - NYPD

· Police Officer - Walter L Mallinson – Harrison Police Department

· Lieutenant – John W Moran – FDNY

· Firefighter – Kevin J Nolan – FDNY

· Police Officer – Kathleen O’Connor Funigello – New Rochelle Police Department

· Firefighter – John V Peteani Jr – Yonkers Fire Department

· Firefighter – Michael R O’Hanlon – FDNY

· Firefighter – Eduardo A Rivera – Yonkers Fire Department

· Detective - Joseph E Seabrook - NYPD

· Captain – Robert J Spatta – Croton on the Hudson Fire Department

· Deputy Chief – Frank G Strollo – New Rochelle Fire Department

· Captain – Ronald G Peifer SR – FDNY

· Captain - Dennis P Tortorella – Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department

· Firefighter – Neill S Tyndal JR – Yonkers Fire Department

· Detective – Charles J Wassil JR – Peekskill Police Department

· Lieutenant – Marden C Wolf – White Plains Fire Department

· James P Sullivan - New York City Transit Authority

· Sergeant – Peter C Woods – NYPD, Hartsdale Fire Commissioner & Co-Chair Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial