9/11 memorial services to be held at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla

Hudson Valley is honoring community members lost in the Sept. 11 attacks with memorial services at the Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla.

News 12 Staff

Sep 9, 2022, 10:25 AM

Updated 754 days ago

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Hudson Valley is honoring community members lost in the Sept. 11 attacks with memorial services at the Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla this Sunday, Sept. 11 at 3 p.m.
The location is home to The Rising, a monument created on the 5th anniversary of the tragedy.
It allows visitors to step inside and look through intertwined steel beams that reach 80 feet into the sky. Many say it’s like a direct view to heaven.
At the bottom there are stones bearing the names of each victim and an inscription from the family. This part is known as the Circle of Remembrance.
Another part of the monument is a beam from the World Trade Center donated by former Gov. George Pataki.
A new addition to the memorial is two granite stones honoring first responders and construction workers who died due to 9/11-related illnesses from their work at Ground Zero.
The stones are also engraved with the names of late first responders from the area.
Among them is Capt. Phil Pinto, a 32-year veteran of the Eastchester Fire Department. He died of pancreatic cancer in January.
"When we see Phil's name engraved on the monument, there is a huge sense of pride and honor. But it's also coupled with huge sense of grief and loss,” said his widow, Lisa.
Another fallen first responder is Capt. Dennis Tortorella, who served the Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department for more than 50 years. He went to went ground zero to help fight fires that burned for days. In May of 2021, he passed away from 9/11-related cancer.
"I don't think he would have done anything different. I think he just wished he could have helped more," said his son, Paul.