Gardeners add color to WTC Monument in Veterans Memorial Park

WARWICK-The Warwick Valley Gardeners are to be commended for the wonderful job they did to beautify the WTC Monument," said, George Arnott, retired Warwick Police Sgt. and chairman of the WTC Warwick Citizens Memorial Committee. "I hope everyone stops by to see it." Shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the Pentagon and World Trade Center, the Warwick Police Benevolent Association (PBA), other organizations and members of the community formed the WTC Warwick Citizens Memorial Committee. With the cooperation of the entire community, the committee soon raised the necessary funds to erect a monument in Veterans Memorial Park to honor all of Warwick's residents who were victims in that attack. The monument was dedicated in the fall of 2002. As they do at other public locations throughout the community, the Warwick Valley Gardeners accepted the responsibility of taking care of the grounds surrounding the WTC Monument. "People see us doing this," said Lori Testa, president of the organization, "and they stop and say ‘Can I help?' There's a lot of community spirit here." Testa pointed to the new flags surrounding the base of the memorial. "For example," she said, "a young woman came by and mentioned that the flags were not in good shape. No one asked but she just went out and purchased new ones. Then she replaced the old ones. And it was all at her own expense." The WTC Warwick Citizens Memorial is just a short distance on the left past the entrance to Veterans Memorial Park on Forester Avenue.