A sorrowful dirge played and drummers led marchers down Washington Street Monday as students from all six Hoboken schools remembered the 37 Port Authority officers lost in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.
The procession was led by 40 Port Authority officers and finished with an emotional ceremony at Pier A Park. Gov. James E. McGreevey attended the memorial service at the park.
The event was the culmination of a nearly two-month fundraiser organized by the Hoboken Service America students. The students, who are part of a statewide volunteerism program in the public schools, raised more than $8,000. All the money went directly to the family members of the officers who died.
“I’m honored that Governor McGreevey joined us to pay homage to the 37 police officers who lost their lives on September 11,” Mayor David Roberts said last week. “As we grieve for those officers and pay our condolences to their families, I believe that our young people in Hoboken’s service learning program give us reason for hope. What these young men and women have accomplished in reaching out to their peers across the state of New Jersey is truly extraordinary. We search for meaning in these difficult times. If a new generation of young people has learned the value of hard work and cooperation in order to help others, then perhaps some sliver of good has come from this.”