UCCA Candlelight 9/11 Memorial Service Held

(L. to r.): City Councilmembers Peter Vallone Jr. and Helen Sears, state Senator George Onorato, UCCA President Rose Marie Poveromo and Assemblymember Michael Gianaris.

The sixth annual Candlelight Memorial Ceremony for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center held by the United Community Civic Association in McManus Memorial Park at 81st Street and the Grand Central Service Road in Astoria Heights on Wednesday, September 12 included state Senators George Onorato and John Sabini, Borough President Helen Marshall, Assemblymember Michael Gianaris and City Councilmembers Peter Vallone Jr., Helen Sears and Eric Gioia and Warren Kroppel and Tom Bosco of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Retired New York City Fire Department Deputy Chief Alexander Santora, his wife, Maureen, and Megan and Kathleen, two of their three daughters also attended. Christopher Santora, the Santoras' only son, a probationary firefighter who gave up a teaching career to follow his father into the Fire Department, at 23 years of age was the youngest New York City firefighter to die on 9/11. Megan and Kathleen Santora joined the United States Army after the terrorist attacks and were recently mustered out after serving several tours of duty. (Rear, l. to r): Retired New York City Fire Department Deputy Chief Alexander Santora, state Senator George Onorato, Warren Kroppel, Port Authority, Assemblymember Michael Gianaris, City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., Tom Bosco, Port Authority; (front, l. to r.): Megan Santora, City Councilmember Helen Sears, UCCA President Rose Marie Poveromo, City Councilmember Eric Gioia, Borough President Helen Marshall and Maureen Santora.

Photos Dan Luhmann "A sea of candles came alight as the sun set," according to UCCA President Rose Marie Poveromo.