Officials call for unity at 9/11 anniversary service in Calverton

Riverhead officials called for the return of national unity during a prayer service commemorating the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Town Clerk Jim Wooten led Thursday morning’s service with roughly 40 people gathered at World Trade Center Memorial Park in Calverton. Wooten reflected on how the attacks united the nation in grief. Nearly 3,000 people were killed and more than 6,000 others were injured in the attacks.

“In the days that followed was shock, anger, disbelief, finger-pointing, hysteria and the solidarity of the American people rarely seen in a lifetime,” Wooten said. “There was a shortage of American flags of any type, and a common pride in mobilization of support groups and charity fundraising to do what we could to relieve the pain and the loss of our fellow Americans.”

Supervisor Tim Hubbard echoed Wooten’s theme of unity. 

“In the days following 9/11, our great country came together as one,” he said. “That feeling of ‘all for one, and one for all,’ desperately needs to be revisited.” 

He referenced recent acts of violence across the country.

“Events in Utah and Colorado yesterday must stop,” he said, referring to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, and the shooting at Evergreen High School in Colorado that put two teenagers in critical condition and the perpetrator dead by suicide. “We as a nation have the power to stop this senseless killing.”

Hubbard offered special recognition for first responders; 343 members of the FDNY and 23 members of the NYPD died responding to the attack. 

“A special remembrance to all law enforcement, fire departments and EMS that ran into the burning buildings and the crash sites,” Hubbard said. “We are forever grateful for your service. All victims of 9/11 will never be forgotten. May God bless all of you here today, and may God bless the United States of America.”

Assembly Member Jodi Giglio said she has listened to survivors of the attacks and those who helped search for victims’ bodies in its aftermath. 

“Today they are still suffering with ailments that have taken their lives or continue to haunt them on a daily basis,” Giglio said. Hundreds worked for months in the rubble of the World Trade Center to recover human remains; their exposure to toxins at the site caused a multitude of illnesses and deaths. 

“So we need to remember them, and we need to make sure that we thank them, and we need to remember Sept. 12 every day of our lives, when we came together,” she said. “We appreciated each other, we loved our country and we loved thy neighbor.”

Others in attendance at the service included Suffolk County Legislator Catherine Stark; Council members Denise Merrifield, Bob Kern and Ken Rothwell; and Hal Lindstrom, who designed and raised funds for the memorial’s creation. Jim Flood played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.

“God of all people, teach us to be patriotic — but humbly so. Teach us to see the frailty, the beauty and the value of life and light of this tragedy, rather than using it to elevate trivial differences to the heights of divisive reasons for hatred,” Wooten said during his prayer. “Remind us of the way the true heart of the nation’s people was revealed in open doors, open arms and open hearts.” 

“May we never forget that on that day, we did not focus on nationality or wealth or race or education. We focused on humanity and love for our fellow Americans,” Wooten continued. “Lord, call us back to that place in our hearts. Instill in us the deepest sense to be that people once again. May we continue to heal and help each other just the way we did that day.”