“Gracias a todos y cada uno de ustedes por su presencia; nos ayuda a llevar un poquito mas la carga” (“Thank you everyone for being present; it helps us a bit in bearing the weight”), said Prudencio Lemagne, father of David Lemagne, a Port Authority police officer who passed away on 9/11. Last Sunday, Union City held a ceremony of remembrance called “Patriots Day” at 7 p.m. to remember Union City’s residents who died on 9/11.

The ceremony had more than 150 attendees at Liberty Plaza. Among the dignitaries present were State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack, Commissioner Lucio Fernandez, Commissioner Maryury Martinetti, Commissioner Tilo Rivas, and Deputy Chief for the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue David Curtis, among others. The flag colors of the Union City Police Guard were honored under Captain Emilio Gonzalez.

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A community comes closer together to remember.

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The program started with an invocation by Father S.T. Sutton, UCPD Chaplain. UCPD Chief Charles Everett gave the Pledge of Alliance followed by remarks by Mayor Stack, who reminded Union City to “Come closer together [and] make life a bit better for those who come across.”

A moment of silence was held to honor Union City residents who perished on 9/11: Gary L. Bright, age 36, Jorge Luis Leon, age 43, Alejo Perez, age 66, Nancy E. Perez, age 36, and P.A.P.D. David Lemagne, age 27.

At the conclusion, a wreath was laid at the Monument honoring those victims.

Liberty Plaza is located at 30th Street, between New York and Palisade Avenues. It was inaugurated on Sept. 11, 2007.