Lacey Residents To Commemorate 9/11

Although no Lacey Township residents lost their lives in 2001 when two hijacked airplanes were flown into the World Trade Center towers, the community was deeply impacted, Mayor Gary Quinn said.

Ceremonies and services are scheduled around the township this Sunday, the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, when nearly 3,000 people died in attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and the crash of a fourth hijacked plane in Pennsylvania.

“It’s great to see our community and folks around the country coming together and remembering the people who lost their lives — innocent people,” said Quinn. “It’s important as we move forward that boys and girls are taught what happened.”

Community Memorial Gathering

The Lacey Township Community 9/11 Memorial Gathering (and Candle Lighting Service) will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at on Manchester Avenue.

The event is being organized by members of the clergy in Lacey. Representatives of all the churches in town are scheduled to participate, as well as Congregation B’nai Israel in Toms River and an Islamic congregation in the area.

In addition, Quinn, the Township Committee and uniformed members of the township’s three fire departments will attend, along with a color guard.

“Certainly, there was unity when the tragedy occurred, so we needed to come together for a faith celebration and remembrance,” said Pastor Linda Applegate of , a member of the organizing committee.

During the opening of the interfaith service, one candle will be lit. There will be readings, a cellist, flautist and bagpiper.

“Toward the end, those gathered will break up into groups and, with a drum beat sounding, the light will be passed out through the community in silence, a time for peace and reconciliation for all people,” said Applegate.

The service will conclude with the singing of “This is My Song,” which begins:

This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.

Applegate said she is hoping the 9/11 service will lead to more interfaith activities in Lacey. Her church and are already planning an interfaith Thanksgiving eve service in November, she said.

Lanoka Harbor Fire Company

At 11 a.m., the , Route 9 and Warren Ave., will hold a dedication ceremony for its 9/11 memorial, which features a piece of steel from the World Trade Center as its centerpiece.

The fire company has been and expects to finish it later this week, President Jerry Pepin said.

Pepin, a professional firefighter for Edison Township, was on the job on Sept. 11, 2001. He plans to be at work again this Sunday as a tribute to the events 10 years ago, so he will not be attending the ceremony, which will feature speakers and a performance by one of bands.

of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Any organization receiving an artifact was required to use it in a public memorial where people could sit and reflect.

“The memorial will have two 6-foot-tall black granite towers, spaced 5 feet apart with the 4-foot steel beam between the towers with an American flag hanging from it,” said firefighter Karen Ziemian, one of the members of the 9/11 Memorial planning committee. “Below that will be another piece of granite with the number 343. There will be a small waterfall over the granite into a reflecting pond.”

The 343 commemorates the number of firefighters who lost their lives in the attacks. Surrounding the memorial is a paver walkway and benches.

The Lacey Elks Lodge

The , located on Beach Boulevard in Forked River, will host the annual New Jersey State Elk's Association Army of Hope Picnic from noon until 5 p.m.

"Come show your thanks and support of our Fallen Heroes, our Wounded Warriors and the brave members of the armed services from New Jersey for their dedication and sacrifice in defending our freedoms," spokesman Jeffrey Hein said.

The Elks will be collecting various items to send to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. People should bring bug spray, fly strips, hand sanitizer, mouth wash, AA batteries, hard candies, anti-bacterial baby wipes and AT&T calling cards.

Admission is $25 per person; $5 for children 10 years old and younger. Cost includes food, refreshments and entertainment.

The Lacey Soccer Club

The Lacey Soccer Club will commemorate 9/11 by honoring military men and women during a special day of soccer events at . They will also be collecting supplies for our nation’s troops.

People may bring items, such as shampoo/conditioner, suntan lotion, bug spray, lip balm, cotton swabs, eye drops, powdered drink mixes, mouthwash, granola bars, trail mix, gum, mints, beef jerky, tea bags, coffee packets, hard candy, pens, pencils, white socks, tissues, popcorn, sunflower sees, and small boxes of cereal. There will be drop-off boxes at the fields and in the club’s tent in the parking lot.

In addition, they will have a bake sale with all proceeds going to the American Recreational Military Services (A.R.M.S.) program.