It has been over two decades since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the Mineola community gathered once again to honor the lives lost on that day.
The annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony took place at Mineola Memorial Park. In attendance were the village board, Mineola Volunteer Fire Department, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Junior Fire Department, the Mineola Auxiliary Police Department, the Boy Scouts and the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps, as well as Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Town Councilman Dennis Walsh.
Edward Escobar, interim principal of Mineola High School, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. He started his speech by giving the context behind the day that changed the lives of thousands forever.
“The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, along with the heroic struggle aboard United Flight 93 in Pennsylvania, resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 innocent people,” Escobar said. “In those moments of horror and chaos, we witnessed both the depths of human cruelty and the heights of human courage.”
Escobar said the immediate aftermath of the attacks was a testament to the resilience and unity of the American people. From firefighters to police officers to emergency personnel to ordinary citizens, Escobar said these people displayed “extraordinary bravery, risking their lives to save others.” He said the attacks became a catalyst for international cooperation and dialogue.
“In addition to its impact on the American landscape, 9/11 had profound global implications,” Escobar said. “The world witnessed a shift in international relations as countries united in the fight against terrorism.”
Escobar said the attacks “remind us of the lives lost and the indomitable spirit of those who continue to strive for a better world.”
“The world today faces new threats and complexities from geopolitical tensions to climate change,” Escobar said. “Yet, the lessons of Sept. 11 urge us to confront these challenges with the same resolve and unity.”
Paul Pereira, mayor of Mineola, presented Escobar with a commemorative coin and thanked him for the “beautiful and poignant words.”
Eagle Scout members laid a memorial wreath, honoring the memory of those who were lost in the attacks. As they laid the wreath, Shane Kelly, captain of the Mineola Junior Fire Department, played taps.
Pereira said he was proud of the turnout at the ceremony, keeping with the vow to “never forget.” He said the vow is not just a hashtag, but it’s something that he is committed to keeping.
“In this community, we vow to ‘never forget’ and we’ll continue to have this ceremony because we think that it is of the highest importance,” Pereira said.
