Reflections and remembrance are the themes of a currently-running Sept. 11 exhibit at the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center. In addition, this Saturday, the town will hold a memorial ceremony for the six Secaucus residents who perished in the terrorist attacks.
The library, located on Paterson Plank Road, opened a residents’ art exhibit last week called “Reflections and Remembrances of 9/11.” The exhibit will be on display through Sept. 12 at the Panasonic Meeting room located on the second floor.
Katherine Steffens, the library director, said, “I think we have to keep remembering, and that’s why we do this Reflections and Remembrances. Some of the people put into artwork just what we’re thinking.”The event began quietly without a big opening.
“We really think this is a sad and reflective memorial,” said Steffens. She added, “It’s just a remembrance and just a little something to let everyone know Secaucus…[will] still remember. We will never forget and we will always celebrate the lives of those we lost, and we grieve with their families.”
Throughout the two weeks, residents are encouraged to share their memories in whatever art form they choose. Oil paintings, watercolors, sculptures, photography and quilting may be contributed.
Secaucus resident Joe Farese recreated his favorite picture of the Twin Towers out of cardboard he found in lying around his house.
He said, “I had to do something to remember that day.” He displayed the work last year as well. “Last year they thought it was nice,” he said. “It was different, anyway.”
Farese also created an oil painting, which he donated to the library.
Upon reflecting on that day, he said, “I remember when it happened. Let’s put it that way. I got a call on the phone. Somebody called me and said ‘Joe, did you see the towers there?’ I said ‘No. What happened in the towers?’ And when they told me what happened that really got to me.” He watched the events unfold from the Impreveduto Towers, a senior citizen building.
Helen Giambona visited the exhibit with her two daughters, Larisa and Julia, and their friend, Heather Sawaqid. Giambona placed a piece of artwork she made on display.
She said, “It’s an appliqué quilt. That’s the type of quilt it is. It took me two weeks to make, on and off, and it’s dedicated to all the people who perished in the World Trade Center. Each stitch that I did by hand is for each person who perished.”
As she took a look around the room she said, “There’s so much feeling and emotion in this room. It just brings back memories that I can not forget. I’ll never forget that day.”
Cary Saccente, from West New York, placed a model he made on display which attracted a lot of attention for its detail.
He said, “I wanted to go back in time. I wanted to be there again. I can’t. I wanted to see it again. You can’t explain it. You can’t.”
He continued, “It was my way of responding. I think it’s beyond words, the whole calamity.”
Saccente used to take the PATH train to the World Trade Center when he worked on Wall Street and Water Street.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Saccente was asked to assist with medical emergencies since he is a nurse. He said, “Dr. Weiss is the West New York town surgeon. He asked me to go down to Port Imperial where all the emergency people were checked in. They said we needed nurses over there. They really didn’t, but at the time they didn’t know, so they took us over there. They stopped a couple of blocks before it because they were concerned about bombs and building collapses and we stopped right there. We couldn’t do anything else.”
Sixteen artists
Three days prior to the start of the exhibit, 16 artists signed up to display their work. Artists are limited to two pieces of artwork, but that number may change. Residents are encouraged to bring in their art throughout the duration of the exhibit. Unlike other exhibits that the library holds, no artist is allowed to sell his or her work.
The room, with its hardwood floor and pale walls which provide a bit of an echo, is set up with chairs, which Steffens hopes will be used by people who want to sit down and chat. She said some people are not ready to share their artwork, but have a lot to say. The chairs will provide them with an outlet for their stories.
Books about Sept. 11 are also displayed throughout the exhibit. Some of the books include “Let’s Roll,” “The 9/11 Commission Report,” “September 11: An oral history,” and one of Steffen’s favorites, entitled “September 12th, ” which was written by a first grade class at H. Byron Elementary School in Kennett, Mo.
A book that takes on special significance for Secaucus residents is a biography about a young Secaucus man named Steven Strobert who passed on that tragic day. He was a survivor of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The book is entitled “Frankie’s Dad.” A not for profit foundation was set up in Strobert’s name. Information can be accessed on-line at www.strobertfoundation.org.
One of the pictures that stands out in the exhibit is a photograph taken on Sept. 11 by Mark O’Connell through a binocular lens from Carlstadt.
Names engraved
Six Secaucus residents lost their lives on Sept. 11. Their names are engraved in a granite memorial located outside the library. They are: Arlene Babakitis, Richard Cudina, Nancy Perez, Kenneth Simon, Steven Strobert and Michael Tanner.
The stone is part of a larger memorial site that contains two benches, a place for burning candles, a slate containing President George Bush’s words after the attack, a slate etched with a picture of the World Trade Center, and four sidewalk plaques that are engraved with the times events happened on Sept. 11.
“When you go out the driveway, stop your car and you’ll see the granite,” said Steffens. “Three big pieces of granite, and that was a memorial that the town dedicated. So many people went to the bridge, the Route 3 bridge right over here, to witness what was happening. Many of them saw the second plane go in. And they made a makeshift memorial for so many months. So when the library was constructed, the town decided that they would place a memorial here. I know they went through several phases of design. They were very cautious of people who don’t want to be reminded of this constantly.”
Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell said, “We felt it was very important to have something that certainly will be remembered. And that spot was picked because that particular day many people, right alongside that memorial is where people made their makeshift memorials for all the residents of Secaucus who passed away. Some baseball uniforms, old baseball uniforms were hanging there and left there for a long time. Different things that people had of them. Photos and candles were laid out, and of course, if you went to the bridge you could see the towers burning. So the location was picked for those reasons.”
As of press time, the time for Saturday’s memorial service had not yet been scheduled. It will be held at the library. The town will invite schoolchildren and any residents who want to attend. Town employees have been asked to attend. Pastors will attend as well. Relatives of the deceased attended last year’s memorial.
Steffens said, “Following the town’s memorial service, the library doors will open wide, offering residents the opportunity to walk freely through the doors of the library to demonstrate one of our most precious freedoms and have the opportunity to view the displays located upstairs in the Panasonic Room.”
She added, “The library will provide light refreshments and residents will have the opportunity to site and share a cup of coffee and take this time together to pay tribute to those who lost their lives and to the families who are still grieving. The large-screen TV will be turned to CNN for the nationwide memorial services.”
While many activities will be taking place upstairs in the Panasonic Meeting Room, the downstairs will not have anything, not even a sign, referring to the day’s activities. Steffens said the library wants to respect the wishes of those who do not want to participate in these events.
She said, “Sometimes you have to walk away from it because it’s too sad.”
She said that if each town did this, it would show the strength of America. She expects 30 to 50 people to attend Saturday morning.
Upon her own reflection, Steffens said she never imagined when she became library director that she would have to add terrorism measures to her job description. She has prepared a terrorism policy which includes stockpiling supplies, water, transmitter radios and flashlights.
For more details on the memorial service, contact Town Hall at (201) 330-2017.