Bernard B. Kerik to be keynote speaker at Sussex County 9/11 remembrance ceremony

NEWTON — This September marks the fifth anniversary of the terrorist bombings of the World Trade Center, The Pentagon, and the downing of Flight 93 in a field in Pennsylvania. Detective Sergeant Michael Richards from the Newton Police and Glen Vetrano, Freeholder member, along with Sussex County Community College, will honor and remember the people and events of September 11, 2001, with a ceremonial placing of wreaths. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. on the Sussex County Community College Newton campus at the 9/11 monument, which features a steel beam from the World Trade Center. Local Boy and Girl Scout troops will lead the pledge of allegiance. Bernard B. Kerik will be the featured speaker for the afternoon ceremony. Kerik served as the 40th Police Commissioner of the City of New York. Appointed by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and responsible for 55,000 uniformed and civilian employees and a $3.2 billion dollar annual budget, his 16-month term was marked by a reduction in crime, and the oversight of the law enforcement efforts during and after the World Trade Center attack. Kerik was also a founding member of the board of trustees of the Twin Towers Fund, which raised and distributed approximately $216 million dollars to over 600 families related to emergency services workers killed on Sept. 11, 2001. In addition, those who attend the ceremony will have the opportunity to view all the entries from the “How 9/11 changed your life” competition. The committee received many entries from around the region. Area students submitted sentiments through works of art, photography, poetry, and essays. Joanna Chuckran’s winning illustration will be the cover for the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. Other winners include: Leigh Meola, Jul Aikeemel J. Ozoa, and Amanda Donner. The community is invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place rain or shine. Steve Andrews from WSUS radio will be the master of ceremonies. Call 300-2124 for further information.