VISTA, N.Y. – More than 50 Lewisboro community members and fire department personnel attended a 9/11 candlelight memorial at the Vista firehouse Sunday night to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks 10 years ago.

Lt. Dan Cruz of the Vista Fire Department, which organized the event, offered the welcoming remarks and led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

“I was pretty happy with the turnout,” Cruz said. “In addition to the ceremony, people had the opportunity to tour our new facilities.”

The opening invocation was given by Pastor Gene Ott of Steven’s Memorial Church and the Vista Fire Chief Bill Dingee offered opening remarks along with Vista FD President Mark Albert. Lewisboro Supervisor Charles Duffy spoke to the audience and present the Vista Fire Department with a town proclamation honoring the department’s contribution on 9/11.

One of the keynote speakers was Jonathan Schneider, a first district treasurer, who was a first responder on 9/11. Schneider was in the New York Police Academy at the time of the attacks and served time in Iraq as part of the Marine Corps reserves.

Following Schneider’s remarks was the Lighting of the Candles.

“Everyone that came was handed a candle and they were lit for a moment of silence, ‘Taps’ and the closing prayer,” Cruz said.

After the closing prayer, “Amazing Grace” was performed by Carly Dieck.

“It was a very local, very small town affair,” said Duffy.

The Vista Fire Department received a 9/11 artifact – a 9-foot steel beam from the World Trade Center – and hopes to incorporate it into a memorial. It l is seeking ideas from the community.

“We are looking for design ideas,” Cruz said. “We are having a meeting Thursday night at 6:30 and people can come and tell us about them or they can go on line to www.OurLewisboroMemorial.org and submit them there.”

 

How do you think the Vista Fire Department should use its 9/11 artifact? Do you have any memorial design ideas? Share them with us on Twitter or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/TheDailyLewisboro

 

Click here to follow Daily Voice Lewisboro and receive free news updates.