Sep 11, 2009 7:08 pm US/Eastern
Hundreds Gather In Hempstead For 9/11 Remembrance
Long Island Town Lost 152 Residents In September 11 Attacks
Friends, Family Unite At Lido Beach To Honor Fallen Heroes
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Friends and family members of the 152 Hempstead residents lost in the 9/11 attacks eight years ago joined each other at Lido Beach on Friday, September 11, 2009 to remember their lives.
CBS
All across our area there were remembrances of this day, eight years ago.
At Lido Beach, hundreds gathered for an early morning ceremony. The town of Hempstead lost 152 residents on 9/11.
CBS 2 HD spoke to victims' families.
The rain beat down and wind buffeted off the Atlantic. It was the first time Long Island's traditional 9/11 sunrise memorial ceremony had to be moved off the beach and under tents.
"I'm proud of these people who came out in this terrible weather," retired firefighter Robert Beckwith said.
Beckwith tossed a carnation under the replica Twin Towers and planted a flag, much like he did on the "pile" the day then-President George Bush met responders volunteering at ground zero.
"Now a lot of the guys and girls are getting sick," Beckwith said.
As the skies rained down Beckwith paid tributes to colleagues who he said spent months clearing the rubble and are now in need of medical help.
Lieutenant Kenny Phelan's family shifted between reliving the horror to celebrating his memory.
"Put differences aside and just come together to remember those who sacrificed so much," Mary Cox said, fighting back tears.
Firefighter Kenneth Haskell lost both brothers, Thomas and Timothy. The entire Haskell family came to the Lido Beach ceremonies Friday.
"My brothers and I from Long Island spent so many summer days on the beach surfing so I think it's a very wonderful tribute," Haskell said.
Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray also expressed her thoughts.
"Invite all our residents to cast their flowers at the base of the towers and also with the American flag to write the name of a victim or a good thought or a prayer," Murray said.
And there was a poignant moment, too, when dozens of Long Island families learned they will receive educational college funding for 9/11 children, awarded by Scholarship America.
The average scholarship award is $16,000 per family.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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