ON THE GREEN: IN MEMORY
Dozens of residents of the Greater Red Bank Green died in the horrific attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.
Let’s not forget those who died, and their families.
9/11 MEMORIAL SERVICES SET
Below are details about local memorial services planned to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
(Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
Fair Haven
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.
Patriot Day observation, Memorial Park, River Road and Fair Haven Road.
FIREFIGHTERS TO DEDICATE 9/11 MONUMENT
A twisted piece of steel from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, along with a sculpture reminiscent of the twin towers, was installed next to the firefighter memorial outside Red Bank’s borough hall this week. The new work is slated for dedication at a Memorial Day service at 10 a.m. Monday, when deceased volunteer firefighters will also be honored. The borough’s traditional Memorial Day commemoration will be held at 51 Monmouth Street at 11 a.m. (Click to enlarge)
MIDDLETOWN HONORS 37
Votive candles symbolized the lives of Middletown residents who died in the attack, including Louis Minervino. (Photos by Peter Lindner. Click to enlarge)
By MOLLY MULSHINE
A solemn ceremony Sunday evening marked the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center Memorial Gardens in Middletown, the sprawling township that lost 37 of its residents in the terrorist attacks that day.
Among those present was Carmen Devaux, whose family lost a friend and co-worker, Louis J. Minervino.
“I always come [to the memorial service] because of Lou,” she said. “We just think of Lou all the time.”
The memorial ceremony provided Devaux and hundreds of Middletown residents with “a source of comfort,” she said.
LOCALS MOURN BIN LADEN’S VICTIMS
Toms River resident and Jersey City firefighter Mark Lee visited the memorial stone of his lifelong friend Paul Nimbley at Middletown’s September 11 memorial garden Monday, fresh off the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. armed forces. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
Paul Nimbley and Mark Lee were like brothers. They grew up together, went to school together in Jersey City. Lee was Nimbley’s best man at his wedding.
Nearly 10 years ago, Nimbley was one of nearly 3,000 killed at the World Trade Center and two other locations in attacks orchestrated by Osama bin Laden, the elusive-yet-ubiquitous face of 21st century terror who finally met his demise at the hands of U.S. special forces Sunday.
On the heels of that bittersweet news, Lee, a Jersey City firefighter, made a reflective, heart-wrenching trip to pay respects at his friend’s memorial stone at Middletown’s September 11 memorial garden Monday morning.
While there is no true closure in knowing that bin Laden’s reign as a mastermind of terror is over, it lifts a weight of uncertainty that bin Laden would ever face retribution for his horrors against humanity, Lee said.
“It still hurts. I lost my best friend,” Lee, of Toms River, said. “The world’s been changed by this, and now I think it’s better off.”