September 11th Memorial Community Gathering in Glen Oaks Village

Frederick R. Bedell Jr., Grand Knight of St. Anastasia Post #5911, and Glen Oaks Village resident, attended the September 11th Memorial at Tribute Triangle Park in Glen Oaks Village on Sunday and wrote the following testimony. Here below in words and photos is a recap of the very moving and inspiring September 11th Memorial Community Gathering.

Rabbi Menashe Bovit, Master of Ceremonies

Large turnout for the 9-11 Memorial Ceremony

I had just attended a 9/11 ceremony in Glen Oaks Village in a small triangle park on Little Neck Parkway. There was a large turnout with political, religious and service groups in attendance. There were many from the surrounding communities. There were police, fire department personnel and emergency service workers there as well. There were those who were there on that day of infamy and spoke of their experiences trying to save lives. Their stories had brought

Presentation of Colors by the Francis Lewis High School ROTC Color Guard

tears to the many. We even had two men who served in WWII and spoke of their love of America and why they fought for freedom. It was a most poignant and moving event. There were different races, religious groups, and many different backgrounds, countries and cultures. Yet there was one common thread and that was their love of America and what our country has to offer and that is freedom for all. Our enemies hate us for that and that is why they will lose that fight against us. We are united in the belief in that we will not give up in what we all hold most dear and that is freedom from tyranny. Remember this too: Evil thrives when good people do nothing.

Francis Lewis Patriot Battalion Choir performed “America the Beautiful”

Detective Jovoda Cooper, Community Affairs Officer and Officer Andrew Fitzgerald of the 105th Precinct were recognized for their service to the community

LTC John W. Peterkin, USA Retired, 77th Infantry Division Officers Association, WWII Veteran on the right