PRESS
RELEASE
FOR
MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Linda
D. Puglisi, Supervisor
(914)
734-1002 Fax (914) 734-1003
August
21, 2002
A
September 11th beam of hope will shine on the Riverfront Green Ceremony.
Thousands
of participants and spectators are expected to throng Riverfront Green in
Peekskill on Wednesday, September 11th to remember those who lost
their lives in the terrorist attacks on America one year ago and to come
together for healing and for hope.
“September
11th was a shock heard around the world,” said Gladys Muller,
President of the Paramount Center for the Arts Board of Trustees. Muller co-chairs the committee working on
the event, which is titled “Remembrance.”
The memorial observance will begin at 7:30 p.m.
“Because
of TV, families shared the terror of that day, locally, far and wide, and
across the ocean,” said Ms. Muller.
“There was a sudden sense of family, of brotherhood, that then lasted a
long time. Now we come together to
remember, to heal and to find hope for the future. An event that taught us how really vulnerable we are, also taught
us that the human spirit, the soul, cannot be destroyed.”
The
event, which is expected to last about an hour and a half, will begin with the
national anthem by the 89th New York Guard Band from Camp
Smith. The Hand to Mouth Players will
lead a unique pledge of allegiance that will include song and readings. Children from the Voices of Outreach of St.
Peter’s Episcopal Church will sing, as well as youngsters from Woodside
Elementary School in Peekskill, who will
perform
“American the Beautiful” and “Down by the Riverside (Ain’t Goin’ to Study War
No More).”
Cortlandt
Supervisor Linda D. Puglisi, also a committee member states, “This remembrance
ceremony will be a night of reflection of remembering the victims, of thanking
all of the emergency services who devoted their lives to assist at Ground Zero
and throughout our communities and for coming together – united with hope for
our future.”
Lawrence
DelCasale, music teacher at Woodside, who will be preparing the children for
their performance, said the idea of using music to foster hope and healing is
important. And he added, “To me, this
is about the kids, and about their making the statement that war is not the
solution.”
Committee
member Freemont Reif was one of the ambulance corps members who responded to
the terrible crisis at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. “I still don’t sleep well at night,” said
Mr. Reif, who is also Chairman of the Veterans Committee. Mr. Reif said he is glad to work for the
September 11th observance and urges all to attend.
Police,
firemen and emergency medical technicians from all over the local area are
expected to maintain a huge presence at the event. Cortlandt Town Supervisor
Linda
D. Puglisi said all are welcome and encouraged. “This is an opportunity to not only remember those we lost on
9/11, but also an opportunity to once again thank all of those who volunteered
their time and effort to help at Ground Zero,” said Supervisor Puglisi.
In
addition to songs, readings and a video, the audience will witness the
presentation of a handmade quilt by the Croton/Cortlandt Center for the Arts
and presentation of a plaque by the Town of Cortlandt.
Other
Participants will include elected officials, clergy, arts and civic groups,
bagpipers, and the Renaissance Vocal Ensemble, which will sing the hymn “God
Bless America.”
All
attending are asked to bring a flashlight, which will be used at the finale to
shine symbolic beams of light and hope.
There
is no admission.
For
further information, call the Paramount Center for the Arts at (914) 739-2333.
ATTENTION
MEDIA: CONTACT PERSON IS GLADYS MULLER
AT (914) 736-9585, EXT. 11 OR (914) 739-4591.
_________________
Linda D. Puglisi
Supervisor
LDP/dl