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Hundreds gather at 69th Street Pier to commemorate 9/11

BAY RIDGE — A 9/11 vigil was held at American Veterans Memorial Pier (69th Street and Shore Road) to pay tribute to those that lost their lives nearly a quarter of a century ago. 

American flags lined the pier, as hundreds of community members showed face, along with elected leaders, law enforcement officials and service members, on a crisp, clear evening 23 years to the day after the single largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil took place.     

The 45-minute event was presented by Councilmember Justin Brannan, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, State Sen. Iwen Chu and NIA Community Services Network. It was supported by Investors Foundation, NYC Ferry and NYC Parks.  

“Every year for decades, we stand on this pier to commemorate the day that changed all our lives,” Brannan said. “They say that time heals all wounds, but every year we grieve as if it happened yesterday. Everyone lost someone that day, and our community was one of the hardest hit. But I believe the experience has brought us closer together — more so than we had ever been before.

“If we learn nothing else from the tragedies we faced, we learned that love endures and conquers all,” he added. “The love we have for our neighbors, our community members, and fellow New Yorkers is what keeps this city and country the best in the world.”  

Chu was an international news reporter in Taiwan at the time of the attacks, she told the audience.

“I saw a lot on that day,” Chu said. “One of the most memorable things I saw was the solidarity the nation showed.” 

Captain Kristen Schafer, commanding officer 68th Precinct, explained that as time goes by, and as the years pass, it becomes increasingly important to tell these stories and educate the newer generation.

“We want to make sure the sacrifices that were made on that day were not made in vain,” Schafer said. 

Gounardes pointed out that the pain felt as individuals and as a community never really disappears, “it merely evolves and changes as we all do over time. This pain that we carry is part of our solemn responsibility to never forget,” he said.

After the conclusion of the ceremony, Brannan, who has represented southern Brooklyn in the City Council since 2018, briefly addressed his plans to explore a run for comptroller — speaking exclusively to the Brooklyn Eagle.

“With Brad Lander running for mayor next year, I’ve decided to take what I’ve learned, and been able to accomplish as chair of the council’s Finance Committee and run to be New York City’s next comptroller,” Brannan said, adding that he plans on auditing city agencies to ensure that they are working and serving efficiently while rooting out waste and public corruption. 

“As the guy who oversees the largest municipal budget in the country, I can tell you this: New York City’s economy is resilient and strong, but it requires nurturing and never resting on our laurels,” Brannan explained. “It requires government support and partnership, and it requires our government knowing when to get out of the way. New Yorkers work their tails off, pay plenty of taxes and they deserve to see a tangible return on their investment.”

New York City is the greatest city in the world, Brannan said, but that is something that must be worked at every day and never taken for granted, he pointed out.   

“We can fully fund CUNY and universal child care. We can give our EMS workers pay parity,” Brannan said. “We can keep our streets clean, our libraries open, and can have all the things working families need to thrive, but we need to do a better job ensuring our spending matches our priorities. Because ultimately, a budget is more than just a list of income and expenditures — it’s a statement of values.”