Photo credits – Johnathan Rudilosso
Although the September 11 attacks is an event that happened some time ago, it is without end for most of us. For some, tragically more than others, they are still living daily in the aftermath.
9/11-related illnesses have taken so many lives since that dreadful day and continue to do so. Judi Simmons who lost her husband Martin, a NYC firefighter, in 2008 to 9/11-related illness now serves as President of the 911 Responders Remembered and works tirelessly to assist in maintaining the 911 Responders Remembered Park and Memorial Wall located at Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve in Commack, an absolutely beautiful park managed by the Town of Smithtown now serving as an amazing everlasting tribute to our heroes, uniformed or not.
Judi’s group worked in tandem with the Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce to bring people, food, and entertainment together to help raise funds for their mission. The memorial wall is a sight to be seen with the names of those lost on that day in 2001 and the names of those who suffered and died later because of that day. The wall sees about three hundred new names added each year and is running out of space. The event was held this past week on July 11 to raise funds to build a new wall. There was sunshine, friends, families, laughter, and the American spirit.
Most importantly, beauty from ashes.
