BAY RIDGE — A 9/11 vigil was held at American Veterans Memorial Pier (69th Street and Shore Road) to pay tribute to those that lost their lives nearly a quarter of a century ago.
American flags lined the pier, as hundreds of community members showed face, along with elected leaders, law enforcement officials and service members, on a crisp, clear evening 23 years to the day after the single largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil took place.
The 45-minute event was presented by Councilmember Justin Brannan, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, State Sen. Iwen Chu and NIA Community Services Network. It was supported by Investors Foundation, NYC Ferry and NYC Parks.
“Every year for decades, we stand on this pier to commemorate the day that changed all our lives,” Brannan said. “They say that time heals all wounds, but every year we grieve as if it happened yesterday. Everyone lost someone that day, and our community was one of the hardest hit. But I believe the experience has brought us closer together — more so than we had ever been before.
“If we learn nothing else from the tragedies we faced, we learned that love endures and conquers all,” he added. “The love we have for our neighbors, our community members, and fellow New Yorkers is what keeps this city and country the best in the world.”
Chu was an international news reporter in Taiwan at the time of the attacks, she told the audience.
“I saw a lot on that day,” Chu said. “One of the most memorable things I saw was the solidarity the nation showed.”
Captain Kristen Schafer, commanding officer 68th Precinct, explained that as time goes by, and as the years pass, it…
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