View this post on Instagram
SHEEPSHEAD BAY — Every year on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Carlos and Brenda Rodriguez bring their son Giancarlo to a candlelight vigil at a memorial wall in their neighborhood.
The ceremony takes place at a memorial wall in the handball court at Bill Brown Playground on Bedford Avenue. Ahead of this year’s ceremony, Giancarlo gathered a group of fellow scouts and friends to repaint the wall and ensure people never forget the loss of life and the sacrifices that were made.
“Since this year is the 250th anniversary of the U.S. and also the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I thought it would be a really good idea to remember the ones who lost their lives during 9/11 and to honor the families who lost someone in the attacks,” Giancarlo, a member of Scout Troop 238 at St. Edmund Church, told The Tablet.
Local resident Ray Fiore painted the wall 25 years ago. It lists the names of hundreds of 9/11 victims, along with an American flag and symbols of the World Trade Center, the FDNY, and the NYPD. Over the years, the names of those who have died from 9/11 related illnesses have been added.
RELATED: 9/11 Survivor’s High Heels Carry Her Story of Escape and Faith Into History
Giancarlo, who chose to repaint the mural as his community service project in preparation for becoming an Eagle Scout, and the group of scouts and friends repainted the wall on Aug. 15. He then returned with a few of the volunteers on Aug. 17 to touch it up.
He received permission for the project from the New York City Parks Department and the Brooklyn-Bedford Park 9/11 Memorial Committee, which organizes the annual ceremony at the wall.
“I was in awe … I was crying,” Angela Sabino, a committee member, told The Tablet, explaining the significance of the wall. “It’s about the souls of life that day. And now, of course, all these years later, there’s so many more people who have passed away from the injuries they sustained, and people have to know about it.”
Giancarlo acknowledged that the wall had begun to show some wear and tear.
“I’ve been coming here since I was 5 years old, when I was a Cub Scout, and over the years, I’ve noticed that the wall has become extremely faded and a lot of the names were becoming extremely hard to read,” he explained, noting that they are meaningful because each person “has done something to affect another person’s life.”
Ginacarlo, a sophomore at St. Edmund Preparatory High School, also has a personal reason for wanting to honor 9/11 victims. His father, Carlos, a retired Sanitation Department environmental officer, is dealing with 9/11-related health issues, including short-term memory loss, cardiac issues, emphysema, and joint pain.
“He has a lot of health conditions going on due to 9/11,” Giancarlo said. “It’s horrible. No one deserves to go through pain.”
RELATED: Queens Street Named After 9/11 FDNY Hero Gets New Sign
Carlos said he was deeply moved when his son told him what he planned to do.
“I’m very proud of him,” Carlos said. “And when he actually came up with the idea of doing the 9/11 memorial, I was very touched. He told me, ‘I’m doing it for the victims and also because of you, because of what’s happening with you in your health.’ “
Rodriguez, who retired six years ago, recalled that he spent a lot of time in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 at the Staten Island Landfill helping recover the remains of victims. He said he hopes his son’s project will have a lasting impact.
“I felt honored about it because he’s trying to have all these generations come to remember what happened that day,” Carlos said. “So, his message to everyone here is to never forget.”