Commemorative Bricks Honor 9/11 Victims

2005-01-21 / Community

Garden City residents, from left, Kelly Overbrook, Toni Bardong and Mary Jean Miller recently stopped by the Garden City Historical Society's A.T. Stewart-era house on Eleventh Street to view the bricks purchased on behalf of Village residents who perished in the September 11 World Trade Center tragedy.Garden City residents, from left, Kelly Overbrook, Toni Bardong and Mary Jean Miller recently stopped by the Garden City Historical Society's A.T. Stewart-era house on Eleventh Street to view the bricks purchased on behalf of Village residents who perished in the September 11 World Trade Center tragedy. Filled with emotion after the tragedy of September 11 and wanting to do something positive, several Village residents purchased a commemorative brick from the Garden City Historical Society to honor loved ones and friends who lost their lives on that fateful day. The Historical Society's brick campaign is designed to commemorate or memorialize people and events in the Village. The bricks are placed in the pathway around the Society's historic 1872 A.T. Stewart-era house on Eleventh Street.

Kelly Overbrook, a lifelong Garden City resident, spearheaded the idea to buy a brick to honor local victims of 9/11. With just a few calls, she was able to rouse support to purchase a large, two-foot-square brick engraved with all of the names of Garden City residents who perished that day. She had each person's age inscribed next to their name to highlight the young ages at which many of these folks passed away.

Other contributors to the commemorative brick included Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Ohl, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Vierengel, Mr. and Mrs. Steven Bardong, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Miller, Timothy Miller, Mary Ann Miller, Sean Miller, and Mr. and Mrs. Chris Overbeck.

Kelly's brother, Sean Miller, shared Kelly's desire to memorialize friends and acquaintances, and he purchased a separate brick of the same size, listing the names and year of graduation of all the victims who attended Garden City High School.

The two large bricks will be placed at the front entrance to the historic house, the future home of the Garden City Historical Society Museum.

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