Middletown 9/11 tribute to honor 37 residents lost

Middletown lost 37 residents to the World Trade Center attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. At 8:46 a.m. Friday, exactly 14 years after the first plane hit the towers, they will be honored with a silent tribute and wreath-laying at the township’s World Trade Center Memorial Gardens.

Participating in the wordless ceremony will be representatives of the township’s police department, fire department and emergency medical services, plus Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2179, American Legion Post 338 and American Legion Post 515.

“At times, silence speaks volumes,” Mayor Stephanie C. Murray said in a statement. “Middletown’s 9/11 Tribute enables each of us to have a private moment while still coming together to reflect on the tragedy and loss of the day.”

Visitors are welcome at the Memorial Gardens from dawn to dusk. An American flag flown over the World Trade Center on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 will fly at the gardens during the ceremony. In addition, a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in memory of the Middletown residents will fly at town hall.

The Memorial Gardens, which opened on Sept. 11, 2003, are located next to the Middletown Arts Center at 36 Church Street. They rest under a canopy of trees and feature a landscaped path with benches and personalized memorials for each of the 37 residents.

The following residents are honored at the gardens:

Lorraine D. Antigua

Jane S. Beatty

Donna Bernaerts-Kearns

Alfred J. Braca

Ronald M. Breitweiser

Patrick J. Buhse

Stephen J. Cangialosi

Swede Joseph Chevalier

Dolores Marie Costa

Edward Desimone III

Michael Egan

David Ferrugio

Daniel J. Gallagher

John M. Grazioso

Felicia Hamilton

Patrick A. Hoey

Kathleen A. Hunt Casey

Brendan Mark Lang

Roseanne P. Lang

Anna A. Laverty

Michael Patrick McDonnell

Peter T. Milano

Louis J. Minervino

Justin John Molisani, Jr.

James Thomas Murphy

Christopher Newton-Carter

Paul R. Nimbley

Robert Emmett Parks, Jr.

Nicholas P. Pietrunti

John M. Pocher

Beth Ann Quigley

Gregg Reidy

Robert Andrew Spencer

Dick Stadelberger

Kenneth Tietjen

Anthony Ventura

Rodney James Wotton

Staff writer Jerry Carino: jcarino@gannettnj.com.