Mayor James Davis, clergy representing the city’s houses of worship, and others gathered at Harbor View Park at the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor – across Upper New York Bay from the World Trade Center site – to pay tribute to the 13 Bayonne residents and 3,000 people lost to terrorist attacks in 1993 and 2001.
The Bayonne Remembers Committee hosted the Interfaith Memorial Service and Candlelight Vigil to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia, and United Air Lines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania on Sept.11, 2001. The victims of the 1993 trade center bombing were also honored.
“Thirteen years ago, just a few miles from where we stand, 12 Bayonne residents were lost,” Davis said. “All of them and their families are in our hearts, and in our prayers.”
“Our resolve as a nation was tested 13 years ago today,” the mayor continued. “And we showed that nothing is as strong as the American spirit.”
Master of ceremonies Rev. John Fencik of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church cautioned about not falling into complacency. Prior to the reading of the names of the Bayonne departed, he offered a special blessing.
“We pray that their memory will be eternal,” he said.
An especially poignant moment in the program was the presentation by Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin of Temple Beth Am, who read aloud communications from those trapped in the Twin Towers to their loved ones, saying their good-byes.
A candle-lighting ceremony was also held to honor those affected by the two terrorist attacks.
Bagpiper Andrew Sharp played “Amazing Grace,” soloist Jose Candelaria sang “America the Beautiful,” the Bayonne High School Honors Choir sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” and Bayonne High School student Patrick Trapp played “Taps.”
After the ceremony, Rev. Dorothy A. Patterson, pastor of Wallace Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, noted that observances like Bayonne’s are important to hold each year.
“I think whenever we come together like this, it tells us about the inner strength we have,” she said.
Other houses of worship represented at the ceremony included St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Trinity Parish in Bergen Point, and St. John’s Byzantine Catholic Church.
William Macko died in the Feb. 26, 1993 trade center bombing. Patricia Cushing and Jane C. Folger died on United Airlines Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001. The ten others killed that day in Lower Manhattan were: Alysia Basmajian, Ana Mercedes Centeno, John A. Cooper, Colleen Ann Deloughery, Ramzi A. Doany, John Roger Fisher, Orasri Liangthanasarn, Gavin McMahon, Steven P. Morello, and Kenneth Joseph Tarantino.
E-mail joepass@hudsonreporter.com.