On September 11, 2001, seven members of the West Windsor community died. Over the past four years there have been candlelight vigils, speeches by family members, and the construction of the September 11 Memorial Twin Ponds. This year dedication markers created from speeches of the past will be unveiled at a ceremony on Sunday, September 11, at 3 p.m.##M:[more]##
West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hseuh will begin the ceremonies. The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Girl Scout Troop 1184 followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Melissa McCaughey. Invocation by Reverend Timothy J. Capewell, St. David the King Church, follows. Mike Coughlin will then play “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. Families have been invited to speak.
The speech dedication markers include the following speeches:
Helaine K. Chairnoff Wife of Jeffrey Chairnoff
In August 1993, Jeff and I were married and started our life together in West Windsor. We bought our first house in Windsor Haven. It was for us the perfect place to live. I worked in Princeton and Jeff commuted to New York. We were also within a short distance of both of our families. Two years later, our daughter Sarah was born. In 1998, we agreed that it was time to start looking for a larger home. Jeff and I knew we wanted to stay in West Windsor. In September 1998, we moved into our new home in Windsor Crossing and a year and a half later, our son, Benjamin was born. We enjoyed our life together and Jeff and I agreed that West Windsor was a perfect place to raise our children. We truly enjoyed all that the community has to offer and looked forward to our future. Tragically, our life together would not progress as planned.
I want to speak to you today to say thank you to the community. I greatly appreciate the compassion and support that my family has received from friends and neighbors. People often ask me what they can do for my family. My response is, “help my children to know and remember what a wonderful man their father was.” This memorial serves a similar purpose for the community. It will also allow people who didn’t know them personally to think about September 11th and the innocent people whose lives were lost. Thank you to everyone who participated in creating this memorial. I know that it will be a special place for me. I feel comforted knowing that Jeff as well as the other West Windsor residents will not be forgotten. Thank you.
Carol and Ted Suarez Parents of David Suarez
It takes a village, in this case a town, to raise a child. West Windsor has been the town that helped raised David. It is on our streets that he learned to roller blade, play street hockey, and drive. He was a frequent sight during the day, and wearing his favorite white wrestling wind breaker late at night, as he jogged miles throughout our town.
Our house and West Windsor are only places until we fill them with memories, feelings, and above all, love. It is then that a house becomes a home, and a town ceases to be a place and becomes a home and a community. And this, in a larger sense, is why we are here today. We are taking one more step in building a community.
Anyone who knew David knew how important nature was to him. For his Eagle project he planted trees along the back property line at Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church. He was able to accomplish this through the combined efforts of his fellow scouts in Troop 40, his family, families in the community, and our Fire Department.
On this field, he sold wreaths with the scouts, practiced with his school teams, and later came to the tree lighting ceremonies. He would have loved this park because of its peacefulness.
Today we are here to dedicate a place where those we loved and who loved us back are to be remembered. In the future we will return to this place. We will hear the sound of the running water, laughter of children playing, feel the wind, sense the rustle of the leaves, and see friends out for a walk. When this happens, we will hear the voice, the feel, and the actions of those we love and remember.
For everyone who has made this wonderful tribute possible, Ted and I, in David’s name thank you; and for everyone here who helped form David into the wonderful 24 year old young man that he had become, we thank you.
Jackie and Alec Mardikian Parents of Peter Edward Mardikian
Good morning. First, I would like to thank the Mayor and West Windsor Township for giving my family, and all of the other September 11 families, the opportunity to say a few words at this memorial dedication honoring our loved ones. I would also like to thank everyone involved for creating such a tranquil and beautiful arboretum and memorial.
This memorial located so close to our house is very meaningful to my family. My son, Peter Edward Mardikian, graduated from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School in 1991 where he played lacrosse on the school team. Even though Peter lived in Manhattan for the past 5 years, and only lived in West Windsor in his senior year of high school, he was always so proud to call West Windsor his home.
This memorial is also meaningful because it provides my family with a beautiful place where we can mourn Peter’s loss. It provides us with a serene place where we can enjoy the glory of nature; a quiet place where we can reflect inwardly on our loss; and lastly a place where we can learn to hope again that the world can someday live in peace.
So once again, thank you for keeping Peter’s memory alive in this thoughtful memorial. It is this kind of community support and kindness that gives us, the families of September 11, the courage and strength to move beyond this tragedy that struck so deeply into our hearts.
We appreciate your support and your kind thoughts, and thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
Thomas Murphy Father of Patrick Murphy
Patrick was six when we moved to Norchester Drive in 1971 – just down the street. His sister, Lori Jean, often brought him to this park to play and pick wild blueberries. It is so appropriate that the townspeople of West Windsor have selected it as the site to memorialize Patrick and the others we honor today.
Please allow me a moment to share Patrick with you. At the High School, he made the National Honor Society, was a National Merit Scholar, a member of the Concert Choir, a football and basketball player, a member of Boys State, and generally involved in many student activities. He went on to the University of Virginia and majored in Computer Science in the School of Engineering. He sang with the University Singers, and was a founding father of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, and a resident advisor for first year students.
After graduation, he moved to Manhattan to begin a successful career in Information Technology. He met his wife, Vera; they had two children, Sean, now five, and Maggie, now three…the other bright stars in his life. They bought their dream home in New Jersey, and a vacation home and boat at the Jersey shore, and proceeded to plan the rest of their lives together as a family.
We always admired their ability to plan, and were in awe at their achievements. We never imagined anything but a continued series of successes.
Patrick’s spirit will live on in our memories despite our never-ending anger, sadness and desperation.
We ask that you all never forget why we are gathered here. Surely, we commemorate those who died that fateful day, and that is foremost. Every once in a while, though, please remember those left behind. Just a “Hi – how are you doing” really helps.
Patrick’s family thanks the many donors to this Memorial, and the townspeople of West Windsor – always our neighbors and friends.
Jackie Pykon Wife of Edward Pykon
In 1998, after being married for 2 years, my husband Ed and I decided it was time to move out of our Hoboken apartment, look for a house and soon after start a family. Ed, being a great investigator, did an all out search for the best town for us to make all this happen. He came up with West Windsor and was certain this was the town for us. This town had a train line into the City, beautiful homes, and very important on our list of requirements, excellent schools. After almost a year long search, we finally found that perfect house here in West Windsor. Our neighbors were immediately warm and welcoming, inviting us into their lives. We knew right away, we were home.
Last year on March 13th., we had our first child, our daughter Jordyn. We were overjoyed with this new addition to our family. The day we brought her home from the hospital, the first thing Ed did was give her a tour of our house, room by room. He then presented her with her room. Then last August, Ed was promoted to Senior Vice President at Fred Alger Management. He was in charge of running the team that covered healthcare stocks. He was told at that time that he was next in line to become a Portfolio Manager, a position he had worked years to achieve. All of our dreams were unfolding right before us, and we were both on top of the world.
On September 11th., I lost the love of my life and my very best friend. People will ask how I am doing and it’s so hard to say. There are no words to describe the depth of what I am feeling. But, thanks to the precious gift of my daughter, the extraordinary love and support of my neighbors and this community, I have been able to get through the last seven and a half months.
I am now left with only memories of my husband. Although they are wonderful and beautiful, there are many moments when I feel it’s just not enough. I am told that over time that will change. Perhaps this memorial will help.
West Windsor is the town, where the hopes, dreams and promises were starting to come true for Ed and me. Because of that, it’s a place that I will always hold dear in my heart.
Thank you to everyone for attending this dedication and all those who made this memorial possible. Thanks for caring so much to ensure Ed and all the others who lost their lives that day will not be forgotten.
Patricia A Ryan Wife of John J. Ryan
December 1998, our growing family moved into our lovely home here in West Windsor. It was our acre of heaven carved out of the Appelget’s farm. Not a tree or shrub anywhere. In hindsight I believe this is exactly what John wanted, an excuse to buy a John Deere tractor and embark on a life mission of yard work. Of course this was in his “free time” of which there wasn’t much after commuting to NY and raising three young children. Never-the-less he managed over the years to create a beautifully landscaped yard where rabbits, groundhogs, and morning doves share our lives. I happen to know the highlight of John’s (JR as he was called by his friends,) day was when he got off the train in Princeton Junction, loosened his tie, and took the first breath of home. West Windsor is in our children’s hearts for it is here where they are spending their youth and making lasting friendships. I don’t think there is a school gym or field in West Windsor where John didn’t work his coaching skills. He touched many of the youth in this town with his desire to see each child achieve their personal best. His philosophy was to work hard, try your best and strive to leave something beautiful and lasting behind. Whether it was learning to make the best lay-up in basketball or planting the perfect flowering tree.
John would have been very touched by this beautiful memorial. On behalf of the Ryan and Esposito families, I would like to thank our distinguished Mayor, Shing-Fu Hsueh, Harley Pickens, chairman of the Arboretum Committee, and the Friends of West Windsor Open Space for making this come to life. Our families would like to express their gratitude to all the businesses and members of our community who contributed to this effort so generously. I want to thank the members of the September 11 Memorial Task Force who were inspired to bring this idea to West Windsor; they embraced the concept, envisioned this peaceful place, and developed this thoughtful design.
My hope is that all those killed or wounded in these tragic attacks, join the ranks of patriots fallen in other conflicts. These people were what this country had to offer in the name of freedom. This ideal of freedom is what has made this country great. I want to believe that this was a wake up call for all Americans to cherish what is important, your faith, your family and your community. We have an obligation to work for future generations to continue to make this country safe and free. I believe the contemplative nature of this memorial will serve as a reminder for all that visit to remember our loved ones and keep their spirits alive.
On November 18,”1863 Abraham Lincoln spoke these words in his Gettysburg Address that seem appropriate for today,
“.that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion.that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain.”
Teresa K. Cunningham Wife of Michael Joseph Cunningham
Hello to you from the Cunningham family. My son, William, and I would like to first thank everyone, especially the residents of West Windsor and our community of Princeton Oaks and parishioners of St. David the King, for all their support these last few nightmare months. Michael “Micky” Joseph Cunningham, my wonderful husband and new father, worked very hard and was very proud to be a member of this great neighborhood. We moved here from Princeton in July of 2000 and always knew we would make West Windsor our home, and wanted to raise our family here. On August 29th, our dreams came true and our son William, whom we affectionately called “Liam,” was born and the start of our new family became a reality. There was nothing more Micky wanted than to have a child and to be the terrific father he always knew he could be. He was so full of happiness and fun all the time … he even had a wooden stork and lots of balloons in the front lawn to welcome us home and we took lots of pictures and video of our brand new pride and joy. Although Micky was not due to go back to work until September 12, he returned early and saved his vacation days for Liam’s christening to be held the last weekend of October. Instead, we held Micky’s memorial as well as the christening and Liam and he will share that day always.
I am here today with not only my son, but my mother, sister, brother-in law, their new son, several friends and neighbors but most importantly, Micky’s brother, Sean, and his wife Joanne, who flew here from London, England to be here with us, representing Micky’s massive family from the U.K, honoring his spirit and remembering him and thousands of others who just went to work and never came home on September 11th. Our family would like to thank everyone who made this beautiful park come to life and the organizations, companies, designers, leaders and donors who dedicated their resources and attention to this project. Thank you for giving my family and me, especially Liam, a special place to come and to remember everyone we lost that dreadful day, Micky, in particular, and to forge a permanent place that says, “WE’LL NEVER FORGET” and “WE LOVE YOU FOREVER”, for our children now and the children of the future. If there is only one thing I ask it is that you hug your loved ones, tell them you love them every opportunity you can and to lead a life full of happiness and generosity because that’s what Micky was all about, “be happy and live life to the fullest.” I know in my heart that on September 11th, Micky was the happiest man on earth because he told me so on the day Liam was born and he had even given Liam a card that day that said;
To my dearest William,
You have brought me so much pleasure by your coming into this world, I will cherish you, love you, and adore you from here on in, so just get used to it!
Happy Birthday, Daddy
Though today is a day of great appreciation, I am also full of sadness that this park came about as a result of so much devastation. Please always remember them all, our lost loved ones, and honor their memories by never forgetting how fragile our world is and to protect our children in the future. Thank you again West Windsor, from the bottom of our hearts, for this special place.
