Voices of hope mark 9/11 ceremony

By Roman J. Uschak, Staff Writer

Nutley Township went indoors  Sunday for its memorial ceremony to honor the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. The annual gathering, which is normally held outside the Chenoweth Building on Kennedy Drive, was shifted to St. Mary’s Church on Msgr. Owens Place.Rev. David LeDuc opened the service following a bagpipe procession that accompanied the entrance of Nutley police officers and firefighters.

“Ten years ago today, our country faced one of its fiercest attacks and one of its greatest threats,” he said. “Our prayer is to put our hope and trust in the Lord, and strive for peace and justice throughout the world.”LeDuc offered meditations on the historical significance of the four stanzas of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” written nearly 200 years ago by Francis Scott Key, and rendered on Sunday by the Nutley High School Chamber Singers conducted by Michael Cundari.

The invocation was delivered by Rev. Thomas Nicastro, who also offered prayers for American soldiers now serving overseas.“We beseech God on this day as we recall the tragic events ten years ago and the innocent lives lost that day,” he said. “We ask for your healing for all those lives still affected. Be with us on this significant anniversary of 9/11.”Michael Roselli followed with a solo on “You Raise Me Up.” Nutley Public Safety Commissioner Al Petracco then lent his personal reflections on Sept. 11.

Petracco thanked the public for attending and  the first responders both from ten years ago and today. He expressed his sorrow to the families of those who were lost in the terror attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shankesville, Pa. “As the names passed on the TV screen, it was unbelievable how young some of the people were,” said Petracco about watching coverage of the ceremonies from New York City on Sunday morning.“It really struck me to see a 14-year-old boy stand up at the World Trade Center and say how much he missed his father,” said Petracco. “How brave he was to stand up there.”

Petracco said he eventually got past his own anger about Sept. 11, 2001 and moved on to hope. He also talked of the selflessness so many showed in trying to save others that day and of those who volunteered to clean up the World Trade Center site for months afterward at great personal risk.“We should always unite, and it shouldn’t take an act of terrorism,” said Petracco. “Love yourself, love each other, and love life.”Rev. Kristen Engstrom read from Psalm 46 while the names of Nutley’s lost Sept. 11  trio of Franco Lalama, Dorota Kopiczko, and Lt. Robert Cirri were invoked by Rev. Pam Bakal. She also invited the families of the deceased up to the altar to light one of the three candles set aside for their loved one. A fourth candle for all those lost on Sept. 11. was lit by 10-year-old Grace Pula, who was born on that day a decade ago.

The Chamber Singers offered “Grant Us Thy Peace” before Michael D. Geltrude read from Wilfred A. Petersen’s “Where There’s Life There’s Hope.”“Hope lights candles in millions of despairing lives,” said Geltrude. “It is our shield and buckler against defeat, and hope never sounds retreat.”The four-woman musical group, Doorjam, from Nutley’s Franklin Reformed Church, sang “Only Love,” following a short narration on the subject of love by Pastor Jill Fenske.Rev.

Lee Michael Grzywinski read from Romans 8: 31-39, before a congregation-wide candle lighting was held, with the flame being passed from one candle to another.“Hope is a gift to be shared,” said Bakal. “Remember those gone, and remember the hope that light brings.”The church lights were dimmed until only the hundreds of individual points of illumination remained, save for the balcony where the Chamber Singers lent their voices to the “Prayer of St. Francis.” The closing prayer was given by Rev. Ernest Rush.

“May we be instruments of peace as we remember all those family and friends in our hearts, and may this light never dim,” said Rush. “May we bring this light into the world as you have brought light into the world, and may we always bring forth your light, peace and hope.”Dave Pettigrew then sang “There is Hope,” before the Chamber Singers closed with “America the Beautiful.” Roman J. Uschak can be reached at 908-686-7700,    ext. 125, or nutleyjournal@thelocalsource.com.