9/11 memorial
to be dedicated
at arboretum
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
MANALAPAN — The township will dedicate its 9/11 memorial at 10 a.m. Sept. 6 in the municipal arboretum in front of town hall, Route 522.
Manalapan residents who were killed in the terrorist attacks on America that day will be honored during the dedication program and on the memorial.
Manalapan Police Benevolent Association Local 229 has coordinated the fund-raising activities undertake to secure the memorial. PBA President Detective Sam Britton said there will be a dedication ceremony with speakers and presentations.
The memorial will have the World Trade Center’s twin towers constructed of blue granite. The towers will stand 7 feet tall.
A wall of polished black granite will be engraved with the names of residents who were killed in the attacks: Daniel T. Afflitto, Louis F. Aversano Jr., Steven H. Berger, Dominick E. Calia, James V. DeBlase, Patrick Joseph Driscoll, Salvatore A. Fiumefreddo, Salvatore Gitto, Christopher S. Gray, Thomas McCann and Joseph B. Plumitallo.
A pentagon-shaped fountain will be placed next to the monument and a granite boulder with a plaque recalling United Airlines Flight 93 will be located at the northern entrance of the memorial. Driscoll was a passenger on Flight 93, which was hijacked out of Newark Liberty International Airport.
Government officials have said they believe passengers on the plane fought back against the hijackers that morning, causing the plan to be crashed in Pennsylvania. It is believed the target of Flight 93 was the White House in Washington, D.C.
Britton said organizers of the project were aiming to have the project completely funded prior to the dedication. That goal has fallen slightly short of the total amount needed. He said donations can still be made by sending a check payable to Manalapan Township PBA 9/11 Memorial Fund and mailing it to the Manalapan Township P.B.A. 9/11 Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 72, Tennent 07763.