9/11 Memorial Service06

Bergen County Undersheriff Oust, Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire, Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), & Mayor Wildes

Pictured in right photo from left to right:

Rabbi Menachem Genack, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes, and Israel Deputy Counsel General Benjamin Krasna who remarked that the "State of Israel stood in solidarity with those residents of Englewood”

Mayor Wildes remarks, "We have not and we will not ever forget them..."

to the family members of the victims that perished in the attack

Tears Amid the Honors for 9/11 Fallen

Monday, September 11, 2006

By MARTHA McKAY
STAFF WRITER

Claudia Castano Rodriguez would rather avoid the pomp, the flags and the speeches marking the five-year anniversary of 9/11.

She prefers to celebrate her brother Alejandro Castano's memory, as she says, "in a quiet way."

But she came to downtown Englewood early Sunday morning for her mother, Yolanda.

There was a 9/11 ceremony planned; her brother would be honored; and her mother wanted to be there.

"I tell her, 'Let it be, Ma,' we have to remember Alejandro as he was, happy, always making us laugh," said Castano Rodriguez, smiling broadly. "But Mom needs this, this is closure for her -- his body was never found."

Englewood 's service was one of a few held in North Jersey on Sunday to remember those who died on Sept. 11, 2001.

In Lyndhurst , residents gathered in Town Hall Park and released almost 3,000 red, white and blue balloons representing the dead.

In Leonia, Governor Corzine joined Bergen County officials in a solemn remembrance at the county's memorial in Overpeck County Park .

Dozens of other towns plan to hold services today.

The 9/11 Memorial Service organized in Englewood by Mayor Michael Wildes and other local officials brought together family members of seven Englewood residents, including Castano, and one Leonia resident who died in the attacks five years ago.

"We have not and we will not ever forget them," Wildes told about 300 people assembled on the front lawn of the Englewood Library.

Nearby, in a round garden lay eight gray rough-hewn stones engraved with the names of the victims: Frank Bennett Reisman, Uhuru G. Houston, Frank Joseph Doyle, Howard L. Kane, Alva C. Jeffries Sanchez, Alejandro Castano, Michael S. Baksh and Andrew Jay-Hoon Kim.

Along with the stones bearing the victim's names, there is a bronze plaque that reads: "Once rooted in our city / Their spirits live on."

During the hour-long service, several people read poems about the tragedy. Others spoke of the need to rekindle the sense of community that many people felt in the days after the attacks. Family members thanked the local government for the memorial stones.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, who came to the service, said the five-year anniversary marked a time to "celebrate the lives" of those who perished.

Englewood resident Bruce Kane presented the fire and police departments with framed portraits of a fire helmet and police hat in memory of his son, Howard. And Englewood resident David Margules, a photographer who spent time chronicling the rescue and recovery efforts, spoke about the respect paid to the victims by the workers at Ground Zero.

There was one light moment when Wildes called on a young boy in the audience to help lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Matthias Hoss stepped forward tentatively and then shook his head no.

"He's from Germany ," a family member called out, and the crowd laughed. (His mother, Melva, is Alejandro Castano's cousin, the boy's father, Karl Hoss, explained later.)

So Wildes led the pledge, a bagpiper played and words of comfort were read by religious leaders.

Seated in the back row, Andrew Jay-Hoon Kim's mother, Lee, wore a simple black-knit dress. A petite woman, she wore her dark hair pulled back and sat with a black pocketbook on her lap.

Kim's son Andrew had worked on the 93rd floor of the north tower.

As she listened, she bowed her head slightly. Sunshine streamed through the trees. She held a crimson red silk handkerchief up to her eyes and wept.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the refurbishment of this memorial monument, kindly contact Zach at (201) 569-7891.

MAYOR MICHAEL J. WILDES TO HOLD FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 9/11 MEMORIAL SERVICE ON LIBRARY GROUNDS SEPTEMBER 10

Englewood Mayor Michael J. Wildes to hold a Fifth Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Service on the front lawn of the Englewood Public Library on Sunday, September 10, at 9 a.m..

Mayor Wildes said the service will honor the eight Englewood residents who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center five years ago. He will dedicate an engraved stone for each victim in the garden.

City Council members, key Fire, Police, Englewood emergency service personnel who responded to Ground Zero and Englewood Volunteer Ambulance Corps officials, member of the victims' families, Library Board of Trustees officials, local clergy and Englewood residents will join him in this special event. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez is expected to attend. Honor Guard units of both the Englewood Police and Fire Departments will also participate.

There will be poetry readings by Marvina Baksh of Palisades Park, sister of Michael S. Baksh, who perished in the 9/11 attacks; Jeannette Curtis-Rideau of Englewood; and Miximino Herrera Bravo of Englewood, Bruce Kane of Englewood will present to the Fire and Police Departments a framed fire helmet and police hat in memory of his son, Howard, a 9/11 victim. The program will also feature Englewood 9/11 photographer David Margules' new book, “From Dust ‘til Dawn”, a unique photographic portrait of these tragic events.

On Monday, September 11, at 7 p.m., the Library will feature a special film, “The 11 th of September: Moyers in Conversation,” in the Mackay Room to mark the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Bill Moyers has been one of the most thoughtful and penetrating of broadcast journalists working in the mainstream media in the wake of the

Moyers did a series of interviews with academics, theologians, authors and artists about the events that are just as relevant as we ponder world events five years later. A discussion will follow the film, if the audience desires. Ann Sparanese, Head of Adult and Young Adult Services, will be the discussion leader.