Remembering 9/11 19 years later
Dyker business owners host 9/11 memorial service at McKinley Park
BY JESSICA PARKS
A pair of Dyker Heights business
partners held a memorial
service at the neighborhood’s
McKinley Park over Labor Day
weekend to honor those who
lost their lives in the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
“Across the street is my
old junior high school, Mckinley
and on Sept. 11, 2001, I
was actually in social studies
when this happened,” said
Jessica Harrison, co-owner of
E&J Boutique. “Being a kid at
that time it was just a scary
moment, and we just can’t forget
what happened.”
Harrison and Erick Feuer,
the co-owners of the popular
antique shop on Fort Hamilton
Parkway, say they sprung
into action to host the candlelight
vigil at the park after offi
cials announced the city’s
traditional 9/11 light tribute
in Lower Manhattan would
not go on this year.
“When we heard that the
lights were canceled originally
in Manhattan, it was a really
low blow for New Yorkers,”
Feuer said. “The lights are a
way to remember the horrible
things that happened at 9/11
and how we came together as
a country and became one and
really overcame the evil that
was there that day.”
COURIER L 4 IFE, SEPT. 11-17, 2020
Despite a quick reversal of
the city’s decision to call off
the lights, the pair decided to
go ahead with their memorial
service on Sunday, Sept. 6 at
the Fort Hamilton Parkway
greenspace. The pair eventually
partnered with the Brooklyn
Tea Party and the Dyker
Heights Civic Association to
bring the event to life.
“We have to continue to tell
the story of 9/11, the truth of 9/11
and remain vigilant to stand
watch over those who would
try to shut our lights down,”
said Republican District Leader
Liam McCabe at the event.
McCabe was joined by a
slew of the borough’s Republican
representatives of the
present, past and possible future
— including Assemblywoman
Nicole Malliotakis, former
southern Brooklyn State
Children wave fl ags at a memorial service at McKinley Park. Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
Sen. Marty Golden, southern
Brooklyn State Senate candidate
Vito Bruno, and mayoral
candidate Bill Pepitone.
“I am so honored to be
here with not only with fi rst
responders but members of
the community who vowed
to never forget and are here
tonight to ensure that those
lives we lost on 9/11 and those
we have lost since as a result
of medical conditions are
never forgotten,” Malliotakis
said. “I am proud to be here
with this community and I am
glad to see the turnout tonight
to ensure that New York City
and America know Brooklyn
is not forgotten.”
On Friday, which marks the
19th anniversary of the 2001
attacks, groups of politicians
and local community groups
throughout Brooklyn will host
various other events to commemorate
the solemn occasion.