Sept. 11 Ceremony Planned In North Salem

NORTH SALEM, N.Y. – North Salem residents and civic leaders will commemorate the events of Sept. 11, 2001, on Tuesday at the North Salem Firehouse, beginning at 7 p.m.

North Salem lost one resident at the World Trade Center that day. Lt. Vincent Halloran of the New York Fire Department perished in the attempt to evacuate the north tower.

Capt. Carlos Vazquez, a Peach Lake resident, fellow New York City firefighter and acquaintance of Halloran’s, will speak of how the tragedy changed his life and how it changed the Fire Department.

There will also be brief words from local clergy, including the Rev. Tim Wagner of the Croton Falls Presbyterian Church, Monsignor James Moore of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Rev. Lucia Ballantine of St. James Episcopal Church and the Rev. Wesley Shand of Purdys’ United Methodist Church, as well as nonagenarian war veteran Herb Geller.

The North Salem High School band and choir will provide music.

“We try to keep it low-key,” said organizer Drew Outhouse. “It’ll last about an hour. We don’t mind if the politicians come, but we don’t let them talk.”

The observation will end with the tolling of the St. James bell at 8 p.m. Refreshments will follow.

Outhouse urges people not to forget the solemn significance of 9/11. “One of my fears is that it’ll be forgotten,” he said. “Or we’ll be reading about 9/11 Sale Days at Macy’s.”

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