Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) and City Councilmember Susan Zhuang (D— Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Dyker Heights, Boro Park and Sunset Park) marked the 23^rd anniversary of the September 11^th terrorist attacks with an intimate community memorial held in Seth Low Park.

Under sunny skies that many speakers at the event noted were reminiscent of those of 9/11/2001 before the first plane hit the World Trade Center, those who spoke emphasized the importance of remembering the thousands of innocent victims of the terrorist attacks. In all, nearly 3,000 victims died in attacks on that day -- including not only those who simply went to work, that day, as they always did, but also the hundreds of first responders who perished trying to save lives – as well as theapproximately 4,300 who have died since, of diseases brought on by the toxins in the air at Ground Zero.

“It is a day which really affects us all very deeply in our hearts and souls. We must never forget the victims, the loved ones who were lost, and we can never allow terrorists to have the opportunity again to do the evil that was done that day,” urged Assemblyman Colton, who recalled two local families who lost their firefighter sons on that day, and another acquaintance, whose wife had died in the attacks. “It was a tremendous tragedy. We need to say, ‘Never Again,’ and we need to remind our community of that. Many communities have memorial services. I think we need to have one, too. This is our first, and I hope it will continue, year after year.”

“We will never forget these 3,000 lives,” said Councilmember Zhuang. “The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts. On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. No matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.”

Over the course of the hour-long ceremony – which opened with a color guard from Seth Low Intermediate School – numerous speakers, including members of law enforcement and the military, shared their recollections, their sustained sorrow and their appreciation for the sacrifices made by so many.