The deep sound of bagpipes will announce the start of the 24th anniversary commemoration of the September 11 attacks. The Sam Oitice Heroes Remembered Memorial, located at Riverfront Green Park, will once again serve as the site of a solemn ceremony this Thursday, honoring the tragedy with grief but also with profound gratitude for those who gave their lives to save others. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include readings, live music, and a moment of silence in honor of the victims.
The tribute has become a tradition in Peekskill. Westchester Firefighters Emerald Society Pipes & Drums have also been part of that legacy. Last year, they played Amazing Grace during the moment of silence. Residents, first responders, and local officials gather each year in front of the statue of a firefighter kneeling beside the equipment of Samuel P. Oitice — a Peekskill volunteer and FDNY [Fire Department of New York] member who died that day — to honor his memory. The memorial also includes plaques with the names of fallen firefighters and a piece of steel recovered from the Twin Towers.
For Thursday’s event, local officials are also expected to attend, delivering remarks that move attendees. In 2024, Mayor Vivian McKenzie read the poem When Great Trees Fall by Maya Angelou. The verses invited participants to reflect on the loss of so many lives during the attacks, the impact of their absence on those around them, and the profound influence their lives had.
Hours before the Thursday event in Peekskill, at 4 p.m., the communities of Buchanan, Cortlandt, and Croton-on-Hudson will gather at the “Reaching Through the Shadow” Memorial, located at Croton Landing Park, for a joint tribute to victims and first responders. The event recognizes firefighters, police officers, and paramedics whose work has shaped the collective memory of the region and aims to remember and reflect on the vulnerability and courage that emerge in extreme situations.
To facilitate attendance, the Village of Croton will provide shuttle transportation from the parking area, ensuring that all participants can reach the memorial without missing the start of the ceremony.
The events are open to the public and do not require prior registration. Attendees are advised to arrive early and allow time for parking, as Riverfront Green and Croton Landing Park serve as central gathering points for residents and visitors.
