Weehawken, NJ — A somber gathering took place Wednesday evening as Weehawken officials, first responders, and residents assembled in front of the township’s 9/11 memorial to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. The ceremony was a poignant reminder of the local impact of the tragedy, as the town lost five of its own residents on that fateful day.
“It’s very important to keep a remembrance,” said Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner. “We lost five of our residents, and we’re holding the ceremony at night because more people want to participate, but it’s very hard in the morning, especially as many family members attend the official remembrance at the World Trade Center.”
On September 11, 2001, four commercial airplanes were hijacked by terrorists. Two planes were flown into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers, a third struck the Pentagon in Virginia, and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to stop the hijackers from reaching Washington, D.C.
Weehawken played a significant role in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. As chaos engulfed Manhattan, thousands of people sought refuge across the Hudson River. According to Mayor Turner, “Seventy thousand people were brought to Weehawken from Manhattan. Many came covered in debris, and hundreds of our residents rushed to help.”
The township’s fire department and ambulance squads worked tirelessly to assist those fleeing the destruction. “If you were in good shape, you went one place. If you were covered in debris, the fire department hosed you down. Those with injuries were treated by our ambulance squads, with support from across northern New Jersey,” Turner explained.
Jeff Welz, Weehawken’s director of public safety and co-director of North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue, added, “We triaged 50,000 people. No other place in the state handled anything close to that.” Welz noted that despite the massive relief effort, many lives were still lost, including several from Weehawken.
Remembering Those Lost
Among those remembered during the ceremony was Shamir Parmar’s father, one of the five Weehawken residents who perished on 9/11. Parmar’s father worked for Cantor Fitzgerald, which occupied several of the top floors of 1 World Trade Center.
“My father was amazing. He was a big inspiration in our life,” said Parmar. “I was 14 when he passed away. He was involved in all of our school activities, and we cherish the great memories we had with him.”
A Lasting Memorial
Weehawken’s 9/11 memorial, located along the Hudson River Walk, serves as a permanent tribute to the lives lost and the bravery of those who responded. The memorial features two trident-shaped beams that once supported the Twin Towers, alongside an infinity pool and fountain.
Mayor Turner reflected on the memorial’s significance: “It’s been nearly two decades since we first installed the original tridents. It’s a place of reflection and remembrance for our community.”
As the sun set over the Hudson, the ceremony concluded with quiet reflection, as Weehawken residents stood united in honoring the memories of those lost and the resilience of their town.