Point Boro Residents Lay Flowers at Memorials for Sept. 11 Victims

As soon as Lori Tarquinio heard that Osama bin Laden had been killed, she knew exactly what she was going to do first thing this morning.

The lifelong Point Pleasant Borough resident bought a pot of canary yellow flowers and laid it at the memorial plaque for Christopher Lunder at Community Park on Bridge Avenue.

"I picked this because it's his favorite color," said Tarquinio, placing the pot, wrapped in yellow paper, at the edge of the memorial plaque and photo of the Wall resident. Lunder was among those who perished in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

"He was my sister's husband," she said, standing back and looking at the shrine to a man who was 34.

In 1997, Lunder, originally a Long Island resident, married Karen Bittenbinder and she moved out of the borough and into his home in Wall.

Karen Lunder and her sister were born and raised in the borough.

"Wall wouldn't let her have a memorial for Chris there," she said. Wall wanted a memorial area in one of its parks to be dedicated solely to fire department members and other first responders, she said.

"So the town let her have it here, and they've done such a great job taking care of it," she said. "I'm so appreciative of what the town does."

Tarquinio, who did not want to be photographed, said the news Sunday night that the most hunted man in the world had been gunned down, left her with mixed feelings.

"To hear what happened last night, it never gives you closure," she said. "But it helps that there is one less person out there to hurt other people.

"But I worry that this is just the beginning and that more bad stuff will happen," she said, looking back at Lunder's photo in the center of the plaque.

"I guess that sounds negative, but that's how I feel."

Tarquinio said she is concerned that Al Qaeda might lash out with a vengeful terrorist act.

When the Sept. 11 attacks occurred, Karen Lunder could only watch in horror from the apartment she shared with her husband in New York City, Tarquinio said.

Tarquinio said the couple lived in an apartment in the city during the work week and then went home to Wall on weekends.

She said her sister and her whole family all miss Lunder badly and think of him daily.

"He loved life," Tarquinio said. "He wore a hat that said 'Life is Good," she said, laughing a bit.

"He was just such an amazing man, he was such a presence in our lives and he is so sorely missed."

The memorial for Lunder is at the foot of a tall flag pole flying the American flag and near a cross made from a beam of the World Trade Center, next to a plaque in memoriam of all Sept. 11 victims.

Only a few minutes later, Catherine Foley, Donna Drive, walked her dog into the park, and scattered multi-colored flowers at the base of the cross and Lunder's memorial.

When asked if she had known Lunder, his widow or any of her local relatives, Foley said she didn't, but felt moved to do something after hearing the news of bin Laden's death.

So she decided to lay flowers.

"That's all I could do," she said, bursting into tears. "They got him. They got him. They (the victims) weren't even buried. They were burned."

Still teary-eyed, she slowly walked away with her dog.

The memorial plaque for Lunder says:

"In Loving Memory of Christopher E. Lunder, June 10, 1967 to Sept. 11, 2001:

Our Hero: He had beautiful ocean, blue eyes, a huge heart and unending generosity. He made others laugh with his unique, quick wit and he had an unforgettable smile, a cute grin and a precious laugh. He left a lasting impression with everyone he met and he lived a life full of love and friendship. Christopher will forever be in our thoughts and hearts.

To the children of Point Pleasant Borough: Possess in mind and heart pride in our country, love for family, dedication to school, work and time for play!!

We are honored to share Christopher's patriotic ideals and his spiritual qualities with all who enjoy this park.

Karen B. Lunder and the Bittenbinder family."