BRICK – A solemn ceremony of remembrance to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 were recalled during the township’s annual ceremony held at Windward Beach Park.
Township residents John Badagliacca, Brett Bailey, Robert P. Devitt, Michael Diehl, John Perconti, James Sands, Thomas Sgroi and Christopher M. Traina who died that day were recognized during the ceremonies. Their names were read by Mayor Lisa Crate.
Pastor Melissa Jensen of Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance after the presentation of colors followed by the invocation by Pastor Kevin Gollihue of the Living Faith Bible Church. Jensen returned to sing the national anthem and the mayor made some opening remarks.
“As we pause as a nation, a community and as individuals to remember this solemn anniversary of September 11, we not only remember those lost on that tragic day, we also remember those first responders who rushed toward danger and passengers who acted with courage and the families who also carry the weight of loss every single day,” the mayor noted.
“Remembrance is not enough. We honor the fallen not only with our memory but with our actions – by how we live, how we treat one another and how we build a future,” she added. “September 11th showed us amidst its horror what humanity is capable of.”
“We saw strangers helping strangers; people forming human chains to escape together; and a nation, in a moment stood united in grief and resolve,” she said. “In the smoke and sorrow there was also light, compassion, bravery and love. Let that be our enduring tribute.”
She went on to say, “let us honor those who perished by being the best version of ourselves not just today but every day. Let us care for our neighbors and check in on those who are struggling. Let us be kindly, act justly and love deeply.”
“We reflect but we also move forward not forgetting but choosing to build something better in the memory of what was lost. We are tasked with the sacred responsibility of creating a country and a world where people look out for one another, where unity is found in not only the wake of tragedy but in everyday life – in how we act, how we serve, how we listen and how we love,” the mayor added.
“Today we remember and let us also recommit to kindness over cruelty, to empathy over division, to courage over fear. May our lives be the legacy of those we lost and may we rise together toward a future that honors their memory not just with silence but with purpose,” she concluded.
Pastor Steve Philipp for First Baptist Church of Laurelton read Psalm 121, Rabbi Robert Rubin (who recently retired from Temple Beth Or) read Psalm 23 and Deacon Edward Fischer of Visitation Church read a homily for law enforcement, firefighters and EMS responders and later, a prayer for peace.
“I pray not only for the families of those affected but for this country,” Pastor Philipp said. “The greatest country in the world. We are in a Kairos moment which is a time when God intervenes.”
The word Kairos in Christian theology is used 86 times in the New Testament and refers to an opportune time. “We have the right to either choose to continue to go down this road of this pain and violence or come together through love, to act just, love mercy and walk calmly with our God. That is up to us and being from New Jersey we are not followers and conformists, we lead the way,” the pastor added.
Pastor Philipp spoke about Marvin Gaye’s 1971 song “What’s Going On.”
“As the great Marvin Gaye said, ‘mothers, mothers, mothers, there’s too many of you crying; brothers, brothers, brothers, there is too many of you dying; can’t we just find a way to find some loving here someday,” Pastor Phillip added. “Tonight, we are neither Democrat nor Republican but we are America and it starts with us right here right now.”
Windward Beach Park has the Angel In Anguish statue, inscribed with the names of the fallen. Mayor Crate noted that this is a beautiful spot for reflection and ceremony.
“We have the township Knights of Columbus, the Elks, our American Legion Riders, all of our emergency responders who are available come, our color guard officers come, the Rotary, all our local civic organizations always turn out and we also have a lot of our clergy and are part of the ceremony and sing prayers for the families and the people who were left behind,” she told The Brick Times.
The mayor said, “we really feel it is important to continue this. I don’t know how many towns have continued having services but we always a nice turnout for this. We have always have it in the evening, (unlike other communities who hold it in the morning) and while we understand the meaning of doing it in the morning during the time it actually happened we really like the six o’clock hour because we know people are home from work.” Additionally, scout troops can make come with their families at this time.
