9/11 Ceremony to Remember Local Lives Lost

The 11 Wyckoff residents and one former township firefighter who perished in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 will be the focus of this year’s September 11 memorial, organizers of the event said.

“We just don’t want people to forget,” Wyckoff Fire Chief Lou Graglia said of the annual ceremony, happening this year on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Fire Company 1.

“If residents can make it to the ceremony, they should come.”

Along with remembering the lives of the 11 township residents who lost their lives twelve years ago, Dana Hannon, a former Wyckoff firefighter who was an FDNY member when he was killed on 9/11, will be honored during the ceremony.

“[Hannon] was one of our brothers,” Graglia said. “His parents still live in Wyckoff. We think it’s important to remember him.” Hannon’s equipment rack, and WFD helmet are still displayed inside the FD building.

Wednesday’s event, Graglia said, is meant to be, “more of a reflection.”

Township officials last week also urged residents to attend.

The 9/11 ceremony, “has a great community feel to it,” Committeeman Douglas Christie said at a meeting last week.

“It’s a worthwhile event to attend,” Mayor Rudolf Boonstra added, asking residents to set aside time to go to the ceremony.