Tri-Municipal 9/11 Memorial Back on Track with Cortlandt Funding

After several weeks of uncertainty, the Cortlandt Town Board agreed last week to donate $15,000 to the construction of a 9/11 Remembrance Memorial at Croton Landing.

Some board members had balked at contributing to the intermunicipal project with the villages of Buchanan and Croton-on-Hudson, raising questions about the budget for the scaled down memorial, which a team of contractors have offered to provide volunteer services.

At a special meeting, Supervisor Linda Puglisi and councilmen Frank Farrell and John Sloan authorized the funding as the final $15,000 in completing what is considered the first phase. That phase will include a steel beam that was once part of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

“If they don’t spend it, then ours is not spent,” Sloan remarked. “The board’s commitment does not go beyond the IMA.”

Besides Cortlandt’s $15,000, Croton is contributing $3,900 and Buchanan is giving $1,100. A volunteer committee that has been fundraising for a few years has $15,000 to add to the effort. With Councilman Richard Becker absent but supportive of the project, according to Puglisi, only Councilwoman Ann Lindau continued to oppose the town’s share.

Project coordinator Janet Mainiero said the committee is “crossing our fingers” to have the memorial ready for September 11 of this year.

“We are extremely happy with the board’s decision to help us out with this memorial,” she said. “The supervisor has been a strong and steady supporter of this memorial. We look forward to working with all three municipalities as we go forward.”

Mainiero added fundraising will continue to take place for the bronze statue and meditation garden that will be part of phase two.

“It started off as a simple idea,” she said. “It will be worth it in the end. It will be a legacy for many generations in the future.”

Neal Rentz