County Facebook page to feature Daily Remembrance of Residents beginning September 1st
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites members of the community to honor the memory of the 60 Union County residents who perished in the 9/11 attacks by visiting the Union County September 11th Memorial, Sunday, Sept. 11th from the morning hours until 9 p.m. at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.
Members of the Union County Sheriff’s Office will provide a uniformed Honor Guard standing watch at the memorial from 6-9 p.m. and the public will be able to bring and light candles in memory of those lost in the attacks.
Prior to the event, the County Facebook page will mark the 15th anniversary of the attacks by remembering a resident who was killed in the attacks, beginning September 1st and continuing for 59 more days.
“We honor those who perished in the attacks and remember the many acts of bravery that occurred that day,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Being so close to New York City, there are very few in Union County who did not personally know someone, or the family of someone, killed or affected. The County memorial provides a location that allows for peace and reflection that gives us strength and inspiration to continue forward.”
The Union County September 11th Memorial honors those lost in the attacks using design elements that include two girders from the World Trade Center arranged within a five sided area representing the Pentagon, and an Eternal Flame representing those who died in Pennsylvania. The Flame also honors members of the Armed Services and emergency responders.
In addition to these elements, the names of the 60 deceased Union County residents are etched into the memorial.
Dedicated on Sept. 13, 2003 the memorial was constructed through private donations including in-kind work by labor unions and materials at cost.
The Freeholder Board worked with residents of Cranford, Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Summit, Union and Westfield in planning and building the Memorial.
It is located near the Springfield Avenue entrance of Echo Lake Park on the border of Mountainside and Springfield.
For additional information on the Union County September 11th Memorial, or information on visitation hours, contact the Union County Office of Public Information at 877-424-1234 or visit online at www.ucnj.org/9-11-memorial.