At sunset on Tuesday, September 11th, Middletown Township held a silent wreath laying and candlelit tribute through the WTC Memorial Gardens located at the Middletown Arts Center to honor the 37 residents we lost in the World Trade Center attack 17 years ago.
Close to 500 members of the community, including 9/11 victims’ family members, neighbors, Township Committee members, elected officials, local dignitaries, representatives from Middletown’s Police and Fire Departments, Office of Emergency Management and Emergency Medical Services, as well as contingents from American Legion Posts 338 and 515 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2179, bowed their heads in a moment of silence at sunset. Mayor Kevin M Settembrino and the Middletown Township Committee then led the wreath laying ceremony and candlelit walk through the Memorial Gardens. The silence was broken by 37 bell tolls rung by Doug Corbet, who served as Middletown Township’s Fire Chief in 2001, along with current Fire Chief Ryan Clarke. The bell, which was donated by the Port Monmouth Fire Company, was rung in memory of each Middletown resident who perished on September 11, 2001.
The Memorial Gardens rest under a canopy of trees and features a landscaped path with benches and a personalized memorial for each of the 37 residents. “As we come together to honor those we lost, we are reminded of our wonderful community spirit and the strength we can offer one another,” said Mayor Settembrino. “Our silent tribute also allows us to reflect upon our town’s resilience and our country’s commitment to freedom and bravery.”
Residents honored at the Memorial Gardens are as follows:
- Lorraine D. Antigua
- Jane S. Beatty
- Donna Bernaerts-Kearns
- Alfred J. Braca
- Ronald M. Breitweiser
- Patrick J. Buhse
- Stephen J. Cangialosi
- Swede Joseph Chevalier
- Dolores Marie Costa
- Edward Desimone III
- Michael Egan
- David Ferrugio
- Daniel J. Gallagher
- John M. Grazioso
- Felicia Hamilton
- Patrick A. Hoey
- Kathleen A. Hunt Casey
- Brendan Mark Lang
- Roseanne P. Lang
- Anna A. Laverty
- Michael Patrick McDonnell
- Peter T. Milano
- Louis J. Minervino
- Justin John Molisani, Jr.
- James Thomas Murphy
- Christopher Newton-Carter
- Paul R. Nimbley
- Robert Emmett Parks, Jr.
- Nicholas P. Pietrunti
- John M. Pocher
- Beth Ann Quigley
- Gregg Reidy
- Robert Andrew Spencer
- Dick Stadelberger
- Kenneth Tietjen
- Anthony Ventura
- Rodney James Wotton
September 11th is recognized annually as Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance in Middletown Township by the Middletown Township Committee.
An American flag flown over the World Trade Center on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks flew at the Memorial Gardens during the ceremony. In addition, an American Flag flown over the United States Capitol in memory of these Middletown residents flew over Town Hall.
Flag banners are installed annually as a tribute to the September 11th victims. The flag banners hang on telephone poles along Kings Highway, Church Street and Middletown-Lincroft Road. The banners are sponsored by local businesses, organizations and individuals. The flag banner display became part of the Township’s annual 9/11 commemoration in 2011. The project was spearheaded by Deputy Mayor Anthony P. Fiore, who served as Mayor in 2011 and 2012.
The Memorial Gardens were developed by the Middletown WTC Memorial Committee, a group consisting of family members and interested residents. The Memorial Gardens were opened to the public on September 11, 2003. Construction of the memorial was made possible largely through donations. Visitors are welcome at the Middletown WTC Memorial Gardens, located at the Middletown Arts Center at 36 Church Street, from dawn to dusk daily.
The Memorial Gardens continue to be maintained with financial assistance from the Middletown WTC Memorial Gardens Fund in partnership with Middletown Township. Donations for the perpetual maintenance of the Gardens are welcome and appreciated. Donations can be sent to: Middletown WTC Memorial Gardens, c/o Mayor’s Office, Middletown Township, 1 Kings Highway, Middletown, NJ 07748.