Mt. Laurel’s Memorial Park is home to a Sept. 11 memorial. Located just off Mt. Laurel Road, the memorial includes a piece of steel from one of the World Trade Center towers and stands in remembrance of the victims who died in the attacks.
However, the township does not hold a ceremony or remembrance on the anniversary of the attacks, and it has some residents wondering if it should change.
Jerry Mascia, director of municipal services for Mt. Laurel, said the township hasn’t held a service in recent years at the memorial.
Resident Jodi Elmer was surprised the township doesn’t have a ceremony at the memorial on Sept. 11.
“I feel very strongly about it,” she said. “This is something everyone needs to remember.”
Even though the Sept. 11 attacks were 13 years ago, Elmer says it still has an impact on all people today. She feels the anniversary is something the township shouldn’t ignore.
“It’s an event that changed the lives and futures of everyone,” she said.
The Mt. Laurel Garden Club cares for the Sept. 11 memorial as one of its many planting sites across the township. Twice a year, the club plants new flowers and cleans up the site.
Gloria Stevens is the chair for the Sept. 11 memorial committee for the club. She was also surprised no ceremony was held on the anniversary and said the club planned to at least purchase a wreath or come up with some other way to remember the victims.
Brothers Joe and John Profaci are Mt. Laurel residents, but they didn’t even know the township had a memorial for the Sept. 11 attacks. The memorial is tucked down a winding road leading to fields at the park. John said the township should put up a more visible sign letting residents and visitors know where the memorial is.
Even before learning about it, both brothers agreed the township should have some type of ceremony in recognition of the anniversary.
“They should at the very least have a ceremony on the anniversary,” Joe said.
