by Jillian Abbott
"It's my honor to be here today in a community who thinks what they should do, and does it," said state Sen. Frank Padavan at the Bayside rededication of the 204th Street Veterans Memorial Mall on Saturday morning.
Padavan was joined by Assemblywoman Ann Margaret Carrozza, representatives of the Fire Department, the Police Department, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 123, and a large crowd of locals from the neighborhood.
The memorial is the work of residents of 204th Street who live between 32nd and 33rd avenues, currently spearheaded by Don Norton and Andrew Stucky who co-ordinated the ceremony.
After World War II, residents banded together to erect a flag pole in the grassy median strip that runs down the center of the street, and arranged for the flag to be raised each day.
As years went by, however, the memorial became dated and didn't reflect or honor veterans of the most recent wars or current service people.
"We wanted to honor everyone who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country," Norton said, "including the firefighters and police, who gave their lives on Sept. 11, as well as everyone who serves our country in times of war."
Not long into Saturday's ceremony, the attending firefighters suited up and jumped into their trucks.
"The firefighters took off because they were called to an emergency. They didn't ask how or why or what.
They just went," Padavan said. "Three thousand people lost their lives on Sept. 11 when the twin towers fell, but 25,000 people were saved by the brave actions of heroes among the Police, the Fire Department and the Port Authority who ran into, not out of, those building that day. Added to that were the acts of heroism and sacrifice on the part of ordinary citizens."
Following the speeches, the Flag of Heroes — a U.S. flag inscribed with the names of every firefighter and police officer who died on Sept. 11 was raised, and below that the only flag permitted to fly below the U.S. flag — the flag to honor America's service people missing in action (MIA/POWs.)
Next came the unveiling of a new memorial to those who died on Sept. 11; a framed glass structure displaying the FDNY and NYPD shields so that they can be seen by drivers heading along the street in either direction.
The unveiling fell to Michael and Jack Lynch, sons of FDNY Lt. Michael Lynch of Ladder Company No. 4 in Manhattan, who gave his life on Sept. 11. The boys, aged 9 and 6, respectively, said they were very proud to participate, although as Michael stood tall, the younger Jack looked sad as well as proud.
Afterward they joined their mother, Denise, laying a single red rose each on top of the bouquet she placed at the monument.
Maintaining the memorial is a joint effort with neighbors Lou Tierella raising the flag each day, Dan Essig and his sons, Robert and Daniel, mowing the grass, and Max Grundy molding the new concrete base for the plaque.
Each year Norton and his neighbors raise $500 for the upkeep of the memorial. "We didn't want to ask people for more money," Norton said. "Then I got a call from local real estate agent Judy Markowitz. She said she'd pay for the plaque, and at about $500, it wasn't cheap."
Norton's daughter, Lauren Lerner, came up with an inscription for the new plaque that would never be outdated. It reads: "In honor of all our servicemen and women who protect our nation in times of war and peace — many who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country — giving their lives to protect our
After the ceremony had ended the fire trucks returned. "We didn't get to read the plaque" said one firefighter, as they lined up to read the inscription. "It's bit humbling," said another who declined to give his name.
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