Middletown Public Information Office
Middletown World Trade Center Memorial Gardens. Photo by Lee Beaumont
MIDDLETOWN – A silent tribute will be paid to Middletown’s residents who died in the World Trade Center tragedy with a wreath-laying at the Middletown WTC Memorial Gardens on Thursday, September 11th at 8:46 a.m. The time marks the start of the terrorist attacks 13 years ago when the first plane hit the towers.
Township Committee members as well as representatives of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2179, American Legion Post 338 and American Legion Post 515 are scheduled to participate.
“At times, silence speaks volumes,” said Mayor Stephanie C. Murray of the commemoration which remains devoid of any words. “Middletown’s 9/11 Tribute enables each of us to have a private moment while still coming together to reflect on the tragedy and loss of the day,”
Visitors are welcome at the Middletown WTC Memorial Gardens from dawn to dusk. An American flag flown over the World Trade Center on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks will fly at the Memorial Gardens during the ceremony. In addition, an American Flag flown over the United States Capitol in memory of these Middletown residents will fly at Town Hall.
The Memorial Gardens rest under a canopy of trees and features a landscaped path with benches and a personalized memorial for each of the 37 residents. The gardens are located next to the Middletown Arts Center at 36 Church Street. The gardens are open to the public daily.
Flag banners have been installed as a tribute to the September 11th victims. The flag banners are hanging on telephone poles along Kings Highway, Church Street and Middletown-Lincroft Road. The banners are sponsored by local businesses, organizations and individuals. The flag banner display became part of the township’s annual 9/11 commemoration in 2011. The project was spearheaded by Township Committeeman Anthony P. Fiore, who served as Mayor in 2011 and 2012.
In addition, a cablecast of Middletown’s memorial service held on the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Center Tragedy will air on the township’s cable channel on September 11, 2014. Residents can view the channel on Comcast Channel 20 and Verizon FiOS Channel 26.
The Memorial Gardens were developed by the Middletown WTC Memorial Committee, a non-profit group consisting of family members and interested residents. The Memorial Gardens were opened to the public on September 11, 2003. Construction of the memorial was made possible largely through donations.
The Memorial Gardens continue to be maintained by the Middletown WTC Memorial Committee in partnership with Middletown Township. Donations for the perpetual maintenance of the gardens are welcome and appreciated. Donations can be sent to: Middletown WTC Memorial Gardens, c/o Mayor’s Office, Middletown Township, 1 Kings Highway, Middletown, NJ 07748.
Residents honored at the Memorial Gardens are as follows:
- Lorraine D. Antigua
- Jane S. Beatty
- Donna Bernaerts-Kearns
- Alfred J. Braca
- Ronald M. Breitweiser
- Patrick J. Buhse
- Stephen J. Cangialosi
- Swede Joseph Chevalier
- Dolores Marie Costa
- Edward Desimone III
- Michael Egan
- David Ferrugio
- Daniel J. Gallagher
- John M. Grazioso
- Felicia Hamilton
- Patrick A. Hoey
- Kathleen A. Hunt Casey
- Brendan Mark Lang
- Roseanne P. Lang
- Anna A. Laverty
- Michael Patrick McDonnell
- Peter T. Milano
- Louis J. Minervino
- Justin John Molisani, Jr.
- James Thomas Murphy
- Christopher Newton-Carter
- Paul R. Nimbley
- Robert Emmett Parks, Jr.
- Nicholas P. Pietrunti
- John M. Pocher
- Beth Ann Quigley
- Gregg Reidy
- Robert Andrew Spencer
- Dick Stadelberger
- Kenneth Tietjen
- Anthony Ventura
- Rodney James Wotton
