Communities coming together in troubled time
Neighbors gather at
services and vigils to share grief, spread hope
By Sherry conohan
Staff Writer

CHRIS KElly Julia Weyent waves the flag high with her father Richard at the Long Branch candlelight prayer vigil on Sunday.

Shore area residents turned out in droves over the past week to light candles and offer prayers for the victims of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and their families.

In Monmouth Beach, Rosemarie Tieri of Riverdale Avenue came to the candlelight vigil and prayer service at the borough bathing pavilion on the beachfront Friday night clutching a color photograph of her son, Sal, who worked as managing director at Marsh & McLennan on the 99th floor of the first World Trade Center tower to be struck by a hijacked airliner.

Sal E. Tieri Jr., 40, lived in Shrewsbury with his wife, Maureen, and two sons, Jonathan, 7, and Austen, 5. He hasn’t been seen since the disaster left the twin towers a giant pile of rubble.

While waiting for the observance to start, Rosemarie Tieri told of what a good boy her son had been growing up while his father was chronically ill and money was short. She said he would go out every morning with his crab net to snag some crabs and then bring home $10 every afternoon from his catch.

CHRIS KELLY Neil Luciano helps Gwen Johnson light her candle at the Monmouth Beach candlelight prayer vigil last Friday night.

"He was the light of my life," she said.

Her daughter, Faith Tieri Scheur, who lives on Riverview Road in Monmouth Beach, said she and her brother had been very close — "like twins." She went to every hospital in New York where the injured had been taken to look for him and then to the Armory where a list of the missing was being compiled.

"And you see all those pictures," she said of fliers made up by families of the missing.

Scheur said that while in New York, representatives of the American Red Cross just walked up to her, without her saying a word about her loss, and offered comfort and counseling.

Sal Tieri Jr.

"They knew by looking at my face that I was looking for someone," she said.

Also in the crowd were several friends of Joao (J.J.) Aguiar, 30, a borough resident with an oceanfront house just doors away from the pavilion, who worked at KBW, an investment firm, on the 88th floor of the second World Trade Center tower to be hit by an airplane commandeered by hijackers.

"I spoke to him — I called him after the first plane hit the first building — and we talked about how could an airplane run into the building," said Neil Luciano, a longtime friend. "He said he would call me back, and he never did.

"We miss him. He was a great all-around guy," Luciano added. "My feelings go from complete sadness to complete anger."

Mayor James McConville opened the prayer service by leading the approximately 300 people who attended the event in the Pledge of Allegiance which was followed by the playing of "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes by borough resident John Crilly. The Rev. James Chakalos, pastor of Kimisis Greek Orthodox Church in Holmdel and also a borough resident who is known around town as Father Jim, asked God for the strength and courage for all those gathered to face each day’s tasks. "We bow in reverence and humility, thankful for every day that comes our way," he said.

Commissioner James F. Cunniff read a list of the names of those connected to the borough who were known to be dead or missing. They included residents Aguiar and Keith David McHeffy; James J. Straine Jr. of Oceanport, a parishioner of Precious Blood Church in Monmouth Beach; Tieri; New York City firefighter Jay Ogren, who is the brother of Trish Golden of Seaview Avenue; David Bauer, of Rumson, the brother-in-law of Commissioner William C. Barham and his wife Cindy; Thomas Palazzo, of Rye, N.Y., brother of Dick Palazzo.

He asked others with losses — relatives, friends, neighbors — in any of the tragic events of Sept. 11 to step forward to name them so they could be included in the borough’s prayers. Four people stepped forward including a woman who said she worked for United Airlines and had lost six friends.

Commissioner Barham closed the vigil by observing that less than two weeks earlier borough residents were gathered at the same spot on the beach to watch the fireworks that were set off at the end of the second annual Monmouth Beach Day celebration. He said no one would have thought then that they would be back at the pavilion Friday for the candlelight vigil to pray for victims of the World Trade Center disaster and their families.

"God bless America," he said.

A crowd estimated by police at 500 turned out for the candlelight vigil and prayer service at the gazebo in Franklin Lake Park in West Long Branch Sunday night, nearly everyone carrying a flag. Volunteer firemen in their dress uniforms stood smartly at attention on one side of the gazebo while Pop Warner football players and cheerleaders stood on the other side .

After those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance and were led in singing the national anthem by Christina Daverso, a borough resident and student at St. Jerome’s School, Mayor Paul Zambrano introduced three clergymen from the borough who offered their thoughts on the terrorist tragedy that has touched so many.

The Rev. Michael Lankford, of St. Jerome’s Church, quoted from Scripture where Jesus said, "Peace I bequeath to you, my peace I give to you," and prayed that He would "give us peace in our time and in our homes."

However, he noted, peace is a very evasive gift.

"In this time of trouble, I advise everybody to be level headed," he said. "Be patient. We want justice, but we do not want revenge."

Lankford urged everyone to pray for the lives that have been lost in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, and that will be lost in the U.S. government’s declared war against terrorists and those who harbor them.

"God bless us and God bless America," he said.

Rabbi Robert Semah from the West Long Branch Synagogue observed that America will never be the same and said that just as everyone remembers where they were when they heard President Kennedy was shot, everyone will remember where they were and who told them about the events of Sept. 11.

Semah said the "forces of evil" want to unravel the fabric that is America and called for prayer that the country remains strong, always to be the guiding light of the world. He said while these "forces of evil" see the multiplicity of religions in America as "Satan," freedom of religion is the nation’s strength.

"America is a God-fearing country," he said.

Pastor Hyun-bo Shim of the Old First United Methodist Church urged, "Let freedom ring" throughout the United States and all around the world.

Zambrano then said the most important thing for Americans right now is to stay together and back President Bush, who, he said, is doing a good job.

"God bless America," he said.

The program concluded with a fireman raising the American flag, which was hanging at half mast, to the top of the park flagpole, in keeping with Bush’s directive to fly the flag high again and end the country’s mourning period.

Dan Schulz said afterward he liked the rabbi’s comments about freedom of religion in America. "America is strong because of that," he said.

Lilly Kassin said she felt compelled to attend the vigil and prayer service. "I felt like I had to be here and support our country," she said.

Eatontown’s official family held its observance in memory of those killed or missing in the disaster and their families a week earlier.

Borough employees gathered for an impromptu prayer service at mid-day Sept. 14, the Friday following the attack on the World Trade Center, as their part of the national day of prayer. The service took place in the second floor council chambers and was presided over by Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo, who just happened to be in the municipal building at the time.

"We felt we had to do something," Valerie Sapienza, the deputy borough clerk, said in explaining how it grew out of conversations among borough employees right around noon. "We talked about what we could do."

Word of the service spread quickly and almost every employee in the municipal building attended, from clerical staff to police. Even some employees of the Public Works Department came in off the road for it.

"So the borough shut down for 10 minutes," Sapienza said.

Tarantolo said he began the service with remarks about the victims who died and those still trapped in the rubble of what was the World Trade Center.

"I probably didn’t do a very good job because I choked up," he said later.

The mayor then led the borough employees in saying the Lord’s Prayer, followed by everyone sitting in silent prayer for another five to 10 minutes.

"I asked everyone to continue to pray for those still alive," Tarantolo added.

After the service, the mayor and borough employees began calling their relatives and friends to ask them to light a candle at 7 p.m. in remembrance.

In Long Branch, Mayor Adam Schneider and the City Council, residents, members of the clergy and rescue workers gathered on Sept. 13 to unite in prayer.

Filling the meeting room of City Hall and holding flags donated by the office of Freeholder Ted Narozanick, residents mourned family, friends and a nation that was changed in a single moment.

Resident Sandra Williams, accompanied by her daughter and a friend, noted that the city has pulled together. "I’m glad the city has given us this time," she said.

"God did not make a mistake," said the Rev. Donald Brown, consoling those in attendance. "It is our job to pick up the pieces," he said.

Songs were sung by Rabbi Mendy Greenberg, cantor of the Brothers of Israel, and Liz Reilly of the Second Baptist Church.

Superintendent Joseph M. Ferraina, paraphrasing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said, "(When) Evil men plot, good men (must) plan." Ferraina in closing also added that "we have one president, and we need to unite to support and respect his decisions."

Atlantic Fire House Chaplain Howard Marlin reminded those in attendance to honor rescue workers and to remember that firemen have a special kinship in which they will give their lives for one another and those they are trained to rescue.

Applause followed the words of Ed Rogers, president of Local 68, the city firefighter’s union, after he praised fellow firemen, saying he is proud of his men for having dedicated their time in rescue efforts in New York City.

The terrorist attacks have changed our nation as we know it, and recognizing that reality, Pastor Tony Moss of the Covenant Church said, "we need to continue to come together." Moss added that this will change our lives forever, and kindness toward each other is most important.

Keeping hope in the forefront "although dark days are still ahead," said the Rev. Aaron Gibson of the Second Baptist Church, "we are all brothers and sisters and something good will come of this."

"This is the most wonderful thing that the mayor and council have done. But then again, I would have expected this from our mayor," said resident Katherine Darby.

Carolyn O’Connell contributed to this story.