Community Corner

Yorktown Remembers Residents Killed in 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

Community remembers Simon Dedvukaj, Barry McKeon, Paul Fiori, Alan W. Friendlander, Patrick Danahy, and Joseph Spor.

Community leaders, residents, politicians and others wanting to pay their respects gathered on for the September 11 memorial ceremony at the John C. Hart Memorial Library. 

Those in attendance remembered that faithful day nine years ago. 

Judy and Joe Occhiogrossi said their daughter at the time worked in Wall Street and was supposed to be out of town, but did not leave. Finally at approximately 11 a.m. they heard from her that she was ok. They said they would watch TV as events were unfolding. 

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"It was horrible to watch," Joe said. 

"It has to be remembered," Judy said.

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Jennie Menton-Grasso also remembers the day, and immediately thought it was terrorism. 

Her husband Anthony Grasso said what he will remember is that his nephew who was in Manhattan that day safely got back to Westchester after hailing a cab driver agreeing to drive him home. The cab refused to accept money from him.

"That showed the resilience of our people," Grasso said. "In times of crisis, we don't look for money."

Music at the ceremony was provided by the Bell Choir, First Presbyterian Church, and speakers were Yorktown Supervisor Susan Siegel, councilmen Nick Bianco and Vishnu Patel. The invocation was given by Rabbi Robert Weiner of Temple Beth Am, and the benediction was given by Pastor Chip Low of the First Presbyterian Church. 

The residents remembered were Simon Dedvukaj, Barry McKeon, Paul Fiori, Alan W. Friendlander, Patrick Danahy, and Joseph Spor.


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