Candlelight Vigil Held at The Common Ground

On Sept. 11, hundreds of Sayville residents gathered at  to honor and remember those who gave their lives on that fateful day 10 years ago.

Legislator Bill Lindsay started the evening and urged everyone to come to The Common Ground on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to watch a PBS documentary entitled “9/11: An American Requiem.”

Sophisticated Strings played the second Movement of Beethoven’s seventh symphony. Later in the evening they performed "America the Beautiful."

Michelle O’Keefe sang “Amazing Grace" for the crowd. Her voice reverberated through the park and the surrounding streets.

Pastor Gary Brinn, who became a reverend because of 9/11, spoke about that day and asked for special prayers for all people who serve our community. 

As the candles were lit, the dark sky became a sea of candles, so many in fact, that they did not have enough for everyone there.

The audience was invited to share the names of any lost or suffering the consequences of 9/11. Several people got up to speak, including two former teachers of a Central Islip High School student who was lost on 9/11. In his honor, they held up a handmade quilt.

Cary Maya performed his original poem entitled “Who Knows?” and then his original song “Love’s the Key to Conquer All." The Babylon Chorale sang “When You Walk Through a Storm” and then a member recited the poem, “We Stand on Common Ground, ” very fitting considering the venue. 

Mel Gonzalez led Boy Scout Troop 329 from Bayport in the Pledge of Allegiance and Wayne Grimmer led the Twin Shores Chorus in their a cappella renditions of  “Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America." The night ended with the Labyrinth Walk, patterned after the ancient healing labyrinths of Europe.