Jeff Lewis

Saturday is the 20th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001, attacks. Both towers of the World Trade Center collapsed after each was hit by terrorist-hijacked passenger planes, part of the Pentagon was destroyed when another plane crashed into it, and a fourth plane, after passengers stormed the cockpit and fought back against their hijackers, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Nearly three-thousand were killed that day.

Rockland’s annual event is being held tomorrow morning at 8:30 at Haverstraw Bay County Park on Gagan Road in Haverstraw. If you’re planning on attending you’re asked to arrive by 8:15. The event will be streamed live on the county’s Facebook page and posted on YouTube.

https://www.facebook.com/rocklandgov

As part of the commemoration, family members will read the names of the Rockland County victims. There will be a tolling of the bell followed by a moment of silent prayer at 8:46 AM signifying the attack on the North Tower, and again at 9:03 AM for the attack on the South Tower. Four more bells will toll in remembrance of the attack on the Pentagon, the collapse of the South Tower, the crash of United Flight 93, and the collapse of the North Tower.

The first of many ceremonies gets underway Friday night. In Haverstraw, supervisor Howard Phillips says his town’s event starts Friday night at 7 at town hall with the Rockland County Marine Corps. …

Many ceremonies are being held around the county Saturday, including in Tappan, where Bruce Leonard is the president of the Volunteer Fire Association. Leonard says their ceremony begins at 8:30 near the Tappan Green on Old Tappan Road…

Spring Valley’s ceremony is being held Saturday morning at 11 at the police station. Suffern’s is Saturday afternoon at 2 outside Village Hall. Clarkstown supervisor George Hoehmann says their ceremony is Saturday at 5pm by the 9-11 memorial at town hall…

Orangetown supervisor Teresa Kenny hopes to see more young people attend their ceremony at 5:30 Saturday night at town hall…

Nyack’s “Hometown Heroes” Memorial service is Saturday night at 6:30 at Memorial Park. In Stony Point, supervisor Jim Monaghan says their candlelight and wreath-laying service is at 7pm at town hall…

On Sunday, Ramapo’s ceremony at town hall starts at 6pm.

One of the many 9-11 stories that echoes through Rockland is that of Nyack resident, 24 year-old Welles Crowther. The Nyack High School graduate is often referred to as “The Man in the Red Bandana,” an equities trader who worked in the South Tower and rescued at least 18 people that day, aided in part by the red bandana that he always carried with him. He was killed when the tower collapsed.Barbara Noyes is a member of a Facebook Group dedicated to him, and she urges others to join the group and share their photos of themselves wearing red bandanas…

Crowther was a volunteer firefighter, with his father, in Nyack’s Empire Hook & Ladder Co., No. 1. To join the Facebook group click here.

An area state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would ensure that “Never Forget 9-11” stays more than just a catchphrase. Rockland Assemblyman Mike Lawler introduced two new pieces of legislation yesterday that would make September 11th a state holiday to be called “September 11th Memorial and Remembrance Day” and that would amend state education law to require school districts teach about the events of September 11th with materials from accredited institutions.

And sometimes first responders need a little help themselves. A group called “Reps for Responders” is hosting a fundraiser in New City today. A spokesman for the group says they promote fitness, nutrition and overall wellness to improve the mental health status of all first responders…

Featured speakers include Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann. The event is Sunday from 4-8pm at River Court on Main Street in New City. Adults cost $30 for a full unlimited buffet. Kids are $10. First responders are free. Visit https://RepsForResponders.org or send an email to repsforresponders@gmail.com.