By Debbie Cohen
Sept. 11 marked the seventh anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. The Ozone Park Tudor Civic Association held a candlelight vigil in Addabbo Park in Tudor Village honoring the 2,974 who were lost in the attacks.
Frank Dardani, the civic president, held the ceremony with about 40 residents who came to honor the dead.
Civic Vice President Inez Federico and civic members Martha Arroyo and Lisa Lombardi read some of the names of those who perished. Ivan Carpio Bautista's name was read and he was remembered by many as a neighborhood friend.
“Most civics are not doing the yearly memorials anymore, but we want to continue every year,” said Dardani. “It should never be forgotten.”
Earlier that day at Ground Zero, a bell rang at 8:46 a.m., symbolizing when the first plane struck and 9:03 a.m., when the second plane struck. At 9:59 a.m. and 10:29 a.m., a bell rang twice more in remembrance of when the south and north towers fell.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke at Ground Zero and the two presidential candidates, U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), visited the site in the afternoon as they mingled with thousands of mourners.
Several south Queens residents decided to have their own remembrance ceremony in their homes. Ozone Park resident Dorothy Fennell would rather remember quietly inside her own home.
“The attacks should never be forgotten,” said Fennell. “Everyone should remember every year and always say a prayer for the lives that were lost.”
President George W. Bush spoke at the Pentagon, where 184 people were killed after a hijacked plane struck that building, and 15,000 people turned out for that memorial. In Shanksville, Pa., this year's ceremony was held in a large field near the point where United Airlines Flight 93 slammed to the ground, killing all on board.
