Hundreds gather at Angels’ Circle to memorialize 9/11 victims, 21 years later: ‘Love remembers.’ - SILive.com

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- “We gather because love remembers.”

Wendy Pellegrino, founder of Angels’ Circle in Grasmere, read a poem, “Love,” at the beginning of Saturday night’s ceremony to honor each Staten Islander who fell victim to the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

“We keep our promise to never forget,” Pellegrino said.

nws 9/11 — Angels' Circle held its 21st 9/11 Ceremony on Saturday night September 10. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance).

Hundreds gathered at the Grasmere memorial site, near Fingerboard Road and Hylan Boulevard, around 7 p.m. to commemorate the 21st anniversary of 9/11 and pay tribute to each life lost.

Pellegrino expressed that Angels’ Circle became a space where loved ones would come to remember the people who lost their lives. She told the crowd the idea came when she understood the fear and indescribable feeling she had when she thought her husband and other family members died on that day.

“For sure, I thought they were gone,” said Pellegrino. “We all watched in horror and had the same sinking feeling as we saw people running out and hundreds of firefighters and police officers running inside to save who they can.”

Though her husband and other relatives returned home on that dreadful day, Pellegrino still felt an awful feeling in her stomach, so she decided to light a candle at what was once a small empty lot at 4 a.m. the next morning. Others took notice and responded.

Pictures of people killed in the Sept. 11 attacks were placed inside the green space, thus forming Angels’ Circle. Today, it features the faces of more than 200 deceased Staten Islanders.

For Saturday’s memorial, the location was decorated with American flags, light sticks, posters, and flowers.

Following singing performances by local artists, the names of each person -- police officers, firefighters, financial workers, and more -- were read.

In addition, three individuals were honored for their recognition and service to Angels’ Circle: Singers Ken Ryan and Marina Crupi, who have been staples at the site each 9/11 for five and 10 years, respectively.

Michael Black, owner of Jet Fresh Flower Distributers, a Florida-based company, was also honored for his 20 years of donations to Angels’ Circle for the annual Sept. 11 anniversary ceremony. His nephews, firefighters Matthew Bacchi and James Bacchi, accepted the award in his absence.

For the last two decades, Black has sent 250 roses to Ariemma’s Garden Center, in Dongan Hills, where staffers prepare the flowers for the ceremony and deliver them, Pellegrino said., Pellegrino previously told the Advance.

Sgt. Ozzie Rosado, of the 120th Precinct, spoke to the crowd about being a young cop on that September morning.

“I was off that day; my wife called and told me to turn on the news,” Rosado said, fighting back the tears. “Even though she didn’t work at Ground Zero, I was afraid -- she was stuck in Manhattan all night and slept in the car because she couldn’t get back to Staten Island.”

“What I remember most about that day is the sounds -- they will never go away. There were a lot of sirens and nonstop all day,” said Rosado. “When I went to Ground Zero after the towers had already fallen, the distress signals, it was piecing and I still remember it to this day -- the papers all over the ground, the chaos, and I was there to help. If we have another tragedy, mark my words -- I will be there.”

Rosado noted that he and many other first responders spent weeks at Ground Zero. Many of those who helped in the aftermath of the attacks have lost their lives due to 9/11-related illnesses.

Angels’ Circle continues to add pictures and names of people impacted by the Sept. 11 attacks. Pellegrino, during the event, said Islanders who lost their lives due to a 9/11-related illness, can also be memorialized at the location.

“They would not be taking away from why we are here today, but to remember those who were out there looking for our loved ones,” said Pellegrino.

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Hundreds gather at Angels’ Circle to memorialize 9/11 victims, 21 years later: ‘Love remembers.’ - SILive.com
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Hundreds gather at Angels’ Circle to memorialize 9/11 victims, 21 years later: ‘Love remembers.’ - SILive.com

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