Washingtonville Remembers the Horror and the Courage, Honors their Heroes, and Continues to Heal

Memorial for the "Washingtonville Five"

• Courageous responders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 (Battalion Chief Dennis Devlin, Lt. Glenn Perry, FF Mark Whitford, FF Bobby Hamilton, and FF Gerry Nevins)—as well as community members who later succumbed to 9/11-related illnesses (including FF Ray Phillips, PO Ronald Becker, Det. George Remouns, and Det. Tommy Barnitt). 

Chief John Salka gave a moving and lengthy speech about the sacrifices of First Responders, and he expounded on the beauty and offerings of the Firefighters Memorial Park. He encouraged people to come and enjoy it as a restful and healing place.

The Village of Washingtonville “9/11 We Remember” gathering was a marvelous remembrance in a community where Veteran and First Responder support means everything to so many. There was a very large crowd,  beginning as very formal and serious, but being such a close knit community with so many veterans and first responders it transposed into more of a large family gathering. That was until Chief John Salka put his glasses on and began the serious business at hand, the Tribute to the courageous local men who gave their lives at Ground Zero and those who succumbed to related illnesses later, as well as the families who lost husbands, wives, children, friends and colleagues. And then there were the hundreds who dug seemingly endlessly to find anyone living and later just to find bodies.In Orange County our several local communities are historic in nature, and this, combined with proximity to New York City and its regular need for police assistance had brought an exceptional number of fire, police and ambulance personnel and who have over many years developed an exceptional “brotherhood”, a bond so dedicated it seldom needs words. But if you look at these men in uniform you can see they are sharing 25 years of pain for what was lost on September 11, 2021. And beyond the lives lost there was a whole generation of innocence that had thought America was too smart, too mature to have the kinds of violence and mass casualties that happen in “other countries”.

But the other side of that pain is the surety of the very special professional partnership of people you know have the same vision down to the heart of your soul... to a point where an assignment takes on an identity of its own.  The tragedy of 9/11 will not be solved any time soon because it has so many moving parts. But we keep hope because of some parts we have seen fixed.  Chief John Salka is such a great example of that. During the past 25 years he has focused on fixing the parts he can fix... and that is a lot!   He took all the knowledge learned about how to fight fires better, wrote a syllabus and taught thousands of firefighters and fire companies how to fight and prevent fires better.. AND with the support of the community built this wonderful park, where all can come for peace, and relaxation, and to remember those who fought to save lives and make our world a better place. No, we cannot fix the whole world. That is why there is this wonderful word called “parse”, so we look at the whole, and then fix each of the parts we can. Magically the next parts get easier.

The gathering continued for about 2 hours with many enjoying the chance to chat with neighbors and friends on a beautiful  end-of-Summer evening.

Father Chris Argano from St. Mary's Church gave the Invocation

and the Benediction

Washingtonville Police Chief Brian Zaccaro shares memories with crowd members

A solemn moment for Blooming Grove Town Supervisor Rob Jeroloman, likely recalling the time he spent as a Detective with NYPD and at Ground Zero, and the many lost lives he witnessed.

Highway Superintendent Wayne Kirkpatrick chats with a resident. Mayor Tom DeVinko to the right loves the interactions of his community members.

Village of Washingtonville Mayor, Tom DeVinko, with his look of absolute determination that " We're going to make it work...the park, the community, the US, everything!"

Deputy Town Supervisor Cathy Acevedo. She maintains a close relationship with the Town's First Responders, especially after a retired officer, Jose Rosario, saved her son's life, but while losing his own during a rip tide drowning rescue in Puerto Rico. Her son Justin joined NYPD in honor of his hero.

Legislator Kathy Stegenga shares a light moment with a friend as community members heal together

Chief Salka's wife Dawn and daughter Colleen. Colleen is deaf, and so every year Dawn translates every moment to her in sign language. This is always a special part of the gathering for me as it always reminds me of my own mother's devotion to my sister. Because of that devotion and in spite of being born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephaly resulting in near full paralysis from the waist down....Judy, was able to reach her full potential during her 12 years and live a wonderful life, just like Colleen due to the love and care of family and friends. A reminder that Heroes come in many forms.

Apt ending after an evening of seriousness... a big smile and moment of joy between Chief Salka and his daughter Colleen

Washingtonville Firefighters Memorial Park

By Edie Johnson

Executive Editor

Orange County Courier Journal