Schools

Large Turnout for Seaford High School 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

Community pays tribute to five alumni killed in terrorist attacks nine years ago.

Seaford High School hosted its ninth annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony Saturday night Sept. 11 and the tribute to five from the community lost in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center continues to bring out many from the area to pay their respects.

Hundreds of people attended the candlelight memorial ceremony in honor of five Seaford High School graduates who were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The commemoration took place next to a 9/11 memorial dedicated eight years ago that features the names of the five Seaford High School alums lost on that fateful day nine years ago including Thomas T. Haskell'82, Timothy S. Haskell'85, John William Perry'82, Robert Francis Sliwak'77 and Michael Robert Wittenstein'85. Brothers Thomas and Timothy Haskell were New York City firefighters, Perry was an officer with the New York City Police Department and Sliwak and Wittenstein both worked at financial services firm Cantor-Fitzgerald near the top of the World Trade Center's North Tower.

"I remember the first time on Nov. 23, 2002 when we actually had the ribbon cutting ceremony for this magnificent memorial, I came out and I saw a crowd such as this and I was overwhelmed," said Raymond J. Buckley, Seaford High School Principal Emeritus in a speech during the ceremony of the outpouring of support the community has shown for its 9/11 tributes. "As I have said many, many times, never, ever underestimate the power of Seaford pride and you are demonstrating it again this evening."

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The large crowd for the 9/11 commemoration featured numerous Seaford High School students, including the entire football team decked out in their green jerseys. Local cub and boy scouts also showed their support and passed out American flags to the attendees.

Buckley pointed out that thanks to the outpouring of support from the local community, the Seaford High School 9/11 memorial was the first of its kind to be built in the country. Parents of the victims met with Seaford 's 9/11 Memorial Committee in January 2002 and due in large part to a successful fundraiser at Mulcahy's Pub & Concert Hall in Wantagh on March 11 of that year, a ribbon cutting occurred for the memorial 14 months after the tragedy.

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"That just goes to show you the spirit of this community," said Buckley. "You mandated this memorial." 

Many elected officials were on hand for the ceremony including Congressman Peter King (R-Seaford), State Assemblyman David McDonough, R-North Merrick, Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos and Nassau County legislators Dennis Dunne, Sr. , R-Levittown, and David Denenberg ,D-Merrick. Former Long Island congressman Rick Lazio, who is now running for New York governor, also attended as did Nassau County Police Commisioner Lawrence Mulvey. Another noteable guest at the 9/11 commemoration was Bob Beckswith, a retired New York City fireman who is most known for standing beside then President George W. Bush during the commander-in-chief's famous bullhorn speech at the World Trade Center site on Sept. 14, 2001.

"Tonight we are here to honor the five men who were murdered on September 11th and to honor their families for the grace and the dignity they have demonstrated throughout these nine years," said Congressman King in his remarks during the ceremony. "The Haskell family, the Perry family, the Sliwak family and the Wittenstein family have really inspired all of us by their courage."

Toward the end of the service bells were rung for each of the Seaford High School 9/11 victims. Rev. Msgr. Peter Pflomm from Maria Regina Catholic Church in Seaford rang bells for the Haskell brothers and Perry followed by a ringing for Sliwak and Wittenstein conducted by Rabbi Marci Bellows of Temple B'nai Torah in Wantagh.

The Seaford High School 9/11 Committee has also honored the memories of the Haskells, Perry, Sliwak and Wittenstein through Patriot Award scholarships. Since forming nine years ago the committee has given out 45 student scholarships totaling $95,000. The ninth annual Patriot Award Dinner is scheduled for June 27, 2011 at the Woodbury Country Club.


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