[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 81 (Friday, June 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1254]]
                           BROOKLYN REMEMBERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VITO FOSSELLA

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 2005

  Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, on May 17th, I was joined by 9/11 
families, elected officials, and community leaders to unveil Brooklyn's 
official memorial dedicated to the events of September 11, 2001. This 
memorial pays tribute to the 283 men and women of King's County killed 
on that horrific day. The air was filled with sadness in the days and 
months that followed. Because of this, in October of 2001, I along with 
State Senator Marty Golden, realized that a memorial was the best way 
to honor the lives of these brave men and women. Within days community 
leaders organized a committee to raise private funds and started the 
process to design a memorial and make it a reality. Realizing that this 
was not only a New York State issue but also a national one, I worked 
hard to secure $50,000 to begin the groundwork for the memorial.
  The memorial, entitled the ``Beacon,'' soars 25 feet in the air and 
is shaped like a speaking trumpet to resemble the device once used by 
the volunteer fire brigades of New York City to transmit warnings to 
the crowd and give orders to the firefighters. The thoughtfulness and 
simplicity of the design is second to none. It directly reflects the 
Bay Ridge community and the residents of King's County New York. The 
memorial was placed at the 69th Street Pier. This was fitting with its 
broad vista's of the harbor and downtown Manhattan, as it was the 
location to which many Brooklynites went to watch the tragic events of 
September 11, 2001 unfold.
  Those whose lives were lost on September 11 will remain in our 
thoughts and prayers forever. The ``Beacon'' will help all of us, not 
only New Yorkers, but those all over our great Nation keep alive the 
names and memories of those who are no longer with us. It will allow us 
to remember their sacrifice and honor their lives. The memorial will 
serve as a reminder to future generations that our freedom must be 
cherished and never taken for granted because so many gave their lives 
in its name.
  I would like to personally praise the outstanding efforts of the 
memorial committee. They raised the necessary funding, established a 
selection process, chose an outstanding artist, and organized the 
beautiful ceremony. They devoted their time and efforts without any 
compensation or recompense. Without their continued efforts and 
determination this memorial would not have been possible.
  I would like to enter into the Record the names of the Brooklyn 
Remembers Committee:

  Stephen Harrison, Robert Howe, Basil Capetanakis, Richard Conti, 
William Guarinello, Patrick Condren, Gene Brody, Howard Feuer, Denise 
Virga, Serge Allegretti, Corrado Manfredi, Craig Eaton, Joseph 
Caruanna, Anthony Troia.

                          ____________________