Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites members of the public to attend a special ceremony to honor the memory of the 60 Union County residents killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001. The ceremony will be held at the Union County September 11th Memorial in Echo Lake Park, in Mountainside, beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 11.
“On this date, we join with those who lost loved ones in honoring the memory of our fellow Union County residents who perished in the attacks, we remember the many acts of courage that occurred in the midst of a terrible national tragedy,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella.
In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the attacks, the ceremony will include the reading of the names of the deceased Union County residents by County Commissioners, a presentation of wreaths and the laying of flowers by all in attendance.
In accordance with Union County’s practice each year on September 11, the Union County Sheriff’s Office will also provide a uniformed Honor Guard standing watch at the Memorial from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The public is invited to participate in the lighting of candles in memory of those lost in the attacks. The Union County Department of Parks and Recreation will contribute candles for use by the public.
Dedicated on Sept. 13, 2003, the Union County September 11 Memorial is located on a hilltop at the border of Mountainside and Springfield in Union County’s Echo Lake Park, near the Springfield Avenue entrance at the eastern end of the park.
The Union County September 11th Memorial incorporates elements that represent the three sites where the attacks took place on September 11, 2001. Two girders recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center are arranged within a five sided area representing the Pentagon. An Eternal Flame represents those who died in Pennsylvania along with 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.
Union County worked with residents of Cranford, Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Summit, Union and Westfield to plan and build the Memorial. It was constructed through private donations including in-kind work by labor unions and materials at cost. For more details visit ucnj.org/september-11th-memorial.
Visitors are reminded that masks and social distance are encouraged in outdoor settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, vaccination information, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
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