Freeport remembers 9/11

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Dozens of Freeporters gathered at the village’s 9/11 memorial last night, at S. Bayview Avenue and Ray Street, to remember their neighbors who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.  

“It’s great that our community is still able to come together to honor those we lost that day,” said Freeport Fire Department Chief Scott Braun, who joined the ceremony with Freeport’s firefighters at the adjacent Bayview Hose Company #3. 

Eight Freeporters died during, and in the immediate aftermath, of the attacks. 

Two were working at the World Trade Center that morning. David Garcia, 40, was a computer programer and Laura Marchese, 35, was a Freeport Memorial Library librarian working at a consulting firm. Both worked in Tower One. 

The six other Freeporters were first responders who died in the line of duty, including: 

Richard Muldowney Jr., 40, a member of the FDNY Ladder Co. 7; Robert Fazio, 38, of the New York City Police Department, Andre Fletcher, 37, of the FDNY;  Timothy Higgins, 43, of the FDNY; Michael Kiefer, 25, of the FDNY; and David Weiss, 41, of the FDNY. 

Alma Rocha, who serves as the speaker during the annual event, said she was grateful for the support her community demonstrated this year to the families and friends of the fallen.

“We are going through difficult times, but we can overcome anything with each other’s support,” Rocha said. “We must come out here every year to show the families that their loved ones are still in our hearts.”  

“I’m proud of our residents for joining us tonight to offer a prayer to not only our neighbors who died that day, but to all the individuals who we lost on Sept. 11,” added Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy.