Families Of 9/11 Victims Invited To Be Part Of Manalapan Ceremony

MANALAPAN, NJ — On Monday, Sept. 11, the township will host its annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony outside of Town Hall at 7 p.m.

This year, the township is asking any families of the Manalapan 9/11 victims who would like to participate in the ceremony to reach out to the township via email (info@mtnj.org), by phone (732-446-8308), or by calling Mayor Susan Cohen directly at 732-239-5986.

The memorial is located in the township Arboretum in front of the municipal building at 120 Freehold Road (Route 522).

"We hope you can join us as we remember all those we lost in the tragic attack 22 years ago," Mayor Cohen said of the candlelight ceremony.

Elsewhere, the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners also invites everyone to attend its 9/11 memorial ceremony at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11. It will be held on the top of Mount Mitchill in Atlantic Highlands.

The county will also have its Tribute of Lights this year. The lights will be illuminated from sunset to 11 p.m. on Sept. 11, rain or shine. The lights will be visible throughout Monmouth County and along the Raritan Bayshore.

The board earlier this year declared Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 as a county holiday to honor the victims, first responders, volunteers and all who were affected by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Monmouth County lost 147 residents in the terrorist attacks, among the 2,977 people who were killed. More than 6,000 others were injured. Of the 2,977 fatalities, 2,753 were killed in the World Trade Center and the surrounding area, 184 at the Pentagon, and 40 in Pennsylvania after the crash of Flight 93. These deaths included 265 on the four planes used in the attacks.

The attacks by the 19 hijackers, who also died that day, remain the deadliest terrorist act in world history.