Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto reminds all residents that they are invited to join him, his Town Board colleagues and his neighbors at the Town's September 11 memorial dedication, which will be held rain or shine on Saturday, September 10, at Tobay Beach, beginning at 11 a.m.

"The location at Tobay Beach was selected because there is a direct line of sight to where the Twin Towers once stood and it also provides a serene and peaceful surrounding, making it a fitting backdrop for a place of remembrance," Supervisor Venditto explained. "At the ceremony, we will unveil the monument inscribed with the names of Town of Oyster Bay residents lost in the tragedy, as well as a steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center, positioned in the direct line of sight where the Twin Towers once stood."

The supervisor noted that the memorial service will include bagpipe music, as well as vocalist performances and religious readings. In addition, the names of the Town of Oyster Bay residents inscribed on the memorial will be read.

The monument is 30 feet in diameter, in the shape of a semi-circle. The granite-clad wall stands approximately six-feet high in the center and tapers down to six inches at the ends. In addition to the wall itself and the steel girder, the memorial also includes benches, a flagpole, landscaping and decorative pavement defining the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.

"While there are other monuments on Long Island to commemorate those who were lost, my fellow Town Board members and I feel strongly that there should be a memorial in our own hometown - our lost loved ones' hometown - to serve as a local concourse for remembering those who had roots in our community and perished as a result of the attacks," the supervisor stated.

To get to Tobay Beach, take the Wantagh Parkway south to Ocean Parkway (Jones Beach) and head east. Follow Ocean Parkway for about four miles and you will see signs for Tobay Beach. For further information about the memorial, contact the Department of Community & Youth Services at 797-7900.

"I hope that all residents will join us on Saturday, September 10 to remember our friends and neighbors who were lost in the September 11 tragedy," Supervisor Venditto concluded. "While it will be a solemn time, it will also provide a great opportunity for us to pay tribute and memorialize our loved ones who were taken from us too soon."

The LI 9/11 Memorial Committee will again honor all Long Islanders who perished on September 11 with a "Remembering 9/11 - Reading of the Names" at Farmingdale State University of New York. The memorial event will be held on Saturday, September 10 at 1:00 p.m. on the lawn in front of the Horton Administration Building. Farmingdale State President Dr. Jonathan C. Gibralter will be the keynote speaker. This is the third consecutive year that the Long Island Association of Retired New York City Firefighters has organized this tribute. All are welcome.

Other distinguished speakers include Tom O'Neil of Plandome Manor, a survivor of the 60th floor of the WTC. His wife, Patricia O'Neil, is the architect who created the winning memorial design concept. Retired New York City Firefighter Bob Senn of Hicksville will describe his experiences on September 11. Gold Star mother Dorine Kenney of Bay Shore, whose son, Army Spc. Jacob S. Fletcher, was killed in Iraq will also speak.

Something new this year is the 9/11 Memorial Garden which features a sculpture by well-known upstate New York artist Liza Todd-Tivey. The sculpture depicts a rescue dog in full rescue uniform, protective booties on each paw and a vest. The dog, which is at eye level, is moving down an eight-foot I-beam toward a firefighter's helmet at the rubble surrounding the base of the I-beam. The LI Memorial Garden honors all who perished on September 11.

At 5 p.m., following the Reading of the Names, the Long Island Professional Sculptors and Supporters (LPSS) will hold the opening of their year-long Sculpture Exhibition on the lawn in front of the Horton Administration Building. The exhibition includes a dramatic 8 foot sculpture of the WTC in flames after the planes hit.

For more information, contact the LI 9/11 Memorial Committee at 631-420-2496 or 631-420-2400.