MANALAPAN — Memories of those who were killed in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, will be on the mind of many people when they participate in the 12th annual Walk With Joe at 10 a.m. Sept. 6 at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Route 33, Manalapan.
The walk will cover 5 kilometers, or 3.1 miles, through the park.
The walk is named in honor of Patrick “Joe” Driscoll, 70, who died on United Airlines Flight 93 on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. The walk has been held every year since the attacks and is dedicated to Driscoll, Christopher Gray and Thomas McCann, all Manalapan residents who lost their lives that day.
Driscoll, who lived in Manalapan for 40 years, left behind his wife of 43 years, Maureen; four children; and five grandchildren. He was a member of the Yorktowne Club in Manalapan and a youth sports coach in the community.
Gray was working as a foreign-exchange trader at Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. He is the son of former Manalapan Mayor Jim Gray and his wife, Janet.
“I think it’s great that the members [of the Yorktowne Club] continue to work to honor the memory of the Manalapan residents — Chris included — who lost their lives that day,” Jim Gray said. “It is good to keep people remembering.”
McCann, 46, was a 23-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York, looking forward to his retirement in 2002. McCann was a member of Engine Company 65 and was one of the first to respond to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. He left behind his wife, Anne Marie; and two children.
Manalapan resident George McCann, Thomas McCann’s brother, said he applauds the continuing efforts of everyone involved with the Walk With Joe committee who support the scholarships that remember his brother.
“I have received many acknowledgements from students who have been awarded scholarships in memory of my brother, Thomas,” McCann said. “And I hope we all never forget.”
Proceeds from the Walk With Joe are donated to area organizations, including the Samaritan Center food pantry; Freehold Open Door food pantry; Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center; American Recreational Military Services; Monmouth Battlefield State Park; RJM Foundation; Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa.; Monmouth County Mount Mitchill Memorial Park; University of West Virginia Christopher Gray Memorial Scholarship Fund; youth athletic programs; and other nonprofit organizations serving the area with humanitarian aid and programs.
Memorial scholarships through the Freehold Regional High School District have been established to honor the memory of Gray and McCann, according to the Walk With Joe website.
Many businesses and organizations support Walk With Joe as sponsors. These include Saker ShopRite Inc., Englishtown Auction Sales, Hartigan’s Grille, the Manalapan Soccer Club, the Court Jester, CME Associates, Fitness magazine and ESPN The Magazine.
To register for the walk, visit www.walkwithjoe.com.