Last Wednesday, Sept. 11, community members gathered at Owego’s 9/11 Memorial at Hickories Park for a Remembrance ceremony. It has been 18 years since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pa. took the lives of 341 New York City firemen, two paramedics and 23 police officers; Port Authority lost 37 and eight additional EMTs from private EMT units, and 2,581 civilians including a former Town of Owego resident, Derek James Statkevicus.
Gathering for the ceremony in Owego were several dignitaries, fire personnel, officers of the court and law, and guests showing respect for the thousands that lost their lives on Sept. 11.
Referenced during the ceremony by Jim Raftis Sr., who served as emcee, were recollections of a former Owego Fire Chief, Ken Easton.
Raftis recalled Easton’s account following 9/11, and how first responders from Owego went down to the city to support their brothers and sisters. Fast forward, Raftis stated, to the flood of 2011, and the arrival in Owego by members of the New York City department to assist with flood recovery.
Dean Morgan also spoke at the ceremony, paying tribute and remembrance to Owego Resident Derek James Statkevicus, son of Joseph and Nancy Statkevicus and formerly of Apalachin. He was a 1989 Vestal High School graduate, and an Eagle Scout with Apalachin Troop 43.
Derek graduated Cum Laude from Ithaca College, and was employed by KBW Bank and was on the 86th floor of the World Trade Center, South Tower.
In 2001, Derek, who was 30 years old, lived in Norwalk, Conn. with his wife Kimberly and their one-year-old son, Tyler. At the time of the attack, Kimberly was pregnant with their second son, Derek Chase, who was born on Jan. 2, 2002.
The Town of Owego honored Derek with a granite bench that is an integral part of the 9/11 Memorial in Hickories Park.
Other speakers included Town of Owego Supervisor Donald Castellucci and New York State’s 52nd District Senator, Fred Akshar.
The Color Guard of the Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars lowered the American flag to half-staff, and Dean Morgan played live taps; Andrea McBride sang National Anthem.
A Tolling of the Bell, by John Hitchings, signaled the “last alarm” for the fallen first responders.
The remembrance ceremony also honored seven from Owego who in past years gave their lives for the safety of Owego citizens; they include Owego Police Department’s Isaac Wiltsie and F. Allen Hall, Owego Fire Department’s Ray Wiltse, Winifred Knapp Sr., Richard Beck, Steven Gavin and Matthew Porcari.
You can view more photos from the ceremony by following The Owego Pennysaver on Facebook.
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