Montclair Remembers 9/11 Tuesday

Nine people from Montclair have been gone 11 years, but they have not been forgotten.

Local victims of 9/11 include: Michael Stewart, 42; Caleb Arron Dack, 39; Michael L. Collins, 38; Scott M. Johnson, 26; Emeric J. Harvey, 56; David Pruim, 53; Robert M. Murach, 45; Ronald J. Ruben, 36,; and Howard L. Kestenbaum, 56.

Tuesday is the 11-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks that brought down the World Trade Center in New York City and damaged the Pentagon. 

Ceremonies are scheduled nationally to remember the day and honor the victims. But now that it's more than 10 years since the attacks, there is a quieter approach to the anniversary.

This year,  to remember those lost on Sept. 11 has come to an end. From now on, Montclair will mark the occasion at Watchung every 10 years instead of every year.

Township council members say they are encouraging Montclair residents to join in with the annual memorial event organized by Essex County. Today, as always, Essex will hold a 9/11 observance event starting at 8 a.m. at Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange.

"We talked about this last year and I do think that, as far as local governments go, it's a good idea to move to the county event after 10 years," said former Mayor Jerry Fried. "It's a larger event and the county has more resources to be able to to it."

But, in addition to the county event, the Township of Montclair has scheduled a Memorial Service in council chambers at 7 p.m. Tuesday night.

"There will be a moment of silence and victims' names will be read," said Montclair's Communications Director Katya Wowk.

The service will recognize the families of local 9/11 victims.

Diana Stewart, a Montclair resident who lost her husband Michael in the 9/11 attacks, said she was not bothered when there was no formal event planned in Montclair on Tuesday because, as Americans, "we don't need permission to gather."

"In fact, when there was no formal program planned, Lissa Collins (Michael Collins' widow) and I were planning to meet at the Watchung Plaza 9/11 Memorial to place flowers," Stewart said. "Lissa, who is from Hawaii, along with another Hawaiian tranplant who lives in town named Teri, always make a Hawaiian lei which Lissa places on the memorial plaque.

"However, I know that some people were upset about the lack of a formal event and that has apparently caused the change," she said. "Considering the Montclair tradition has always been to thank our firefighters, police officers, and EMTs, our town's tradition has always had a positive 'we shall overcome' attitude about it. It appears the people have spoken and so the program continues."

Also on Tuesday, members of say they will offer prayer sheets for Sept. 11 to those at the New York City-bound DeCamp bus shelter on Bellevue Avenue and at the New York City-bound platform of the Upper Montclair train station between 6:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. today. 

St. James' clergy also will be on hand to talk or pray with anyone of any faith who desires conversation or prayer about this 11th Anniversary.

What will you do to mark 9/11? Here's a look back at a few 9/11-related articles on Montclair Patch.

What do you remember about 9/11? Share your thoughts in the comments section below or email Shelley@patch.com.