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American Morning
Memorial Day in Long Island Town That Lost 50 on 9/11
Aired May 27, 2002 - 08:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: This Memorial Day has special significance to the village of Manhasset, New York, on Long Island's north shore: 50 of its residents lost their lives in the attacks of September the 11th.
Jason Carroll is in Manhasset this morning talking to residents who have gathered their for their annual Memorial Day Parade, and he joins us now on a Memorial Day unlike any other in light of the events of September 11.
Good morning -- Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Jack.
And the parade is scheduled to kick off at about 10:00 a.m., but I'm told that by the fire department here that rarely anything happens on time here in Manhasset. The parade's going to actually come up Plandome Road. That is basically the equivalent of Main Street for this community, a community of some 18,000 people located just about half hour outside of New York City, depending upon traffic -- traffic this morning obviously very light.
Right now I'm going to take you inside Louie's Manhasset Restaurant. This is sort of like the kind of a place where everyone knows your name. And that's easy to do in a place like Manhasset, Long Island, because, as I said, it's such a small town. And they were hit especially hard, as you said, during the World Trade Center disaster. They lost some 50 people, 50 people who called this community their home.
Right now I'm going to talk to Pat Roberts. She is with the Parks Commission here in Manhasset.
Pat, tell me about this parade. Tell me why it has special significance this particular year.
PAT ROBERTS, MANHASSET PARKS COMMISSIONER: Because of what happened on 9/11. We lost so many young men. The mean age was about 35 to 36 years old. They were all commuters. They were all parked at the Manhasset train station. And this is a very sad remembering day for us.
CARROLL: Memorial Day, a day to honor the veterans, but this community made the decision also to honor those who lost their lives as well.
ROBERTS: Yes, we did. We are the park's commissioners, Mr. Ralston (ph), Mr. Savina (ph) and my myself, are planning a memorial, probably to be erected around September 11 of this coming year, something small and something very simple.
CARROLL: I see you've got your red, white, and blue on. We want to thank you so very much for joining us.
You can't come inside a restaurant without talking to the restaurant owner.
Peter, step up here, let me get you in here. Walk one on up. Let me get you in this here as well.
This is Peter Pagonis, and he is the owner of this restaurant.
Peter, I know that you also knew a lot of people who lost their lives on 9/11. What does this particular holiday mean to you?
PETER PAGONIS, OWNER, LOUIE'S MANHASSET RESTAURANT: Well, I mean, it's a day for the heroes, you know, the heroes of -- Memorial Day is about all the veterans that we lost and also 9/11 now. You know we knew lots of customers, and everyone who stepped into the World Trade Center that day was a hero, you now. And it's a shame. We loved all the people that came in here, and it's a tough day. You know it's a tough day. And you know they're all heroes there. Everyone that day was a hero and everyone who died for our country is a hero, you know.
CARROLL: Peter Pagonis, owner of the Louie's Restaurant, thank you very, very much.
Thank you again, Pat Roberts, again for joining us.
Again, Jack, this is the type of place where everyone says that this is a holiday that can really be shared by everyone. And even though it's traditionally a day to honor our veterans, it's also a day that we should be honoring those who lost their lives on 9/11 -- Jack.
CAFFERTY: Indeed, Jason, thank you.
And just like Manhasset, small towns all across the country will have their over Memorial Day observances and parades. If you're not busy, take a few minutes, go out and show your support.
Thanks, Jason, very much.
Jason Carroll live in Manhasset -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good message.
Thank you, Jack.
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