An evening of remembrance to take place at Arboretum

 Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus invites the community to attend the September 11th Patriot Day and Military Tribute, which will be held at the Orange County Arboretum at Thomas Bull Memorial Park on Wednesday, September 11th, at 6:00 p.m.

 The guest speaker this year is Carl Asaro, Jr., who was a 13-year-old child when he lost his father, firefighter Carl F. Asaro, Sr., in the 9/11 terrorist attack. On that day, 39-year-old Asaro Sr. was a member of the FDNY Engine 54/Ladder 4/Battalion 9 deployed to the World Trade Center. None of those firefighters returned home, and Asaro’s body was never recovered.

 Asaro, Jr. chose to honor his father’s memory by following in his footsteps and becoming a member of the New York Fire Department (FDNY). Carl Jr. was the first of his siblings to join the FDNY, and was followed by his brother, Matthew, younger sister Rebecca, and youngest brother Marc.

 “Having the son of a local 9/11 hero speak at our ceremony this year will be an incredibly poignant and moving experience for all who attend,” Neuhaus said. “This is not just a ceremony, but a symbol of our unwavering resilience and unity. I look forward to coming together to pay tribute to the lives lost and the brave heroes who risked everything on that fateful day.”

 The ceremony, which is open to the public, will honor the memory of the 44 Orange County residents who lost their lives during the September 11th attacks and will also honor the brave military personnel who serve our nation. It will be held at the Remembrance Walkway and Garden, which was created in honor of those who are remembered at this ceremony each year. The Memorial features a stunning, rotating granite sculpture of the earth surrounded by bronze plaques with the names of the Orange County residents who perished that day.

 Families and survivors, as well as families of local military personnel and veterans, are invited to participate in the remembrance ceremony and join the procession by assembling in the formal garden courtyard behind the Ottaway Education Center at 5:30 p.m. The procession will begin at 5:55 p.m., followed promptly by the ceremony.

 To learn more about what County Executive Neuhaus is doing for Orange County, follow Orange County Government and Steven M. Neuhaus on Facebook, @Orange County NY Govt and @steve.neuhaus on Instagram, and @OCGovNY and @SNeuhausOC on X. You can also watch Neuhaus’ NeuCast podcasts and Leadership Speaker Series on YouTube.