On September 11, 2026, the Farmingdale State College (FSC) campus community gathered to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a special Memorial Ceremony.

Throughout the morning observance, bell chimes and moments of silence marked remembrance of the lives lost at the following key moments:

• 8:46 a.m.:  American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower 
• 9:03 a.m.:  United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower 
• 9:37 a.m.:  American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon, near Washington, D.C. 
• 9:59 a.m.:  South Tower collapsed
• 10:03 a.m.: United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania 
• 10:28 a.m.: North Tower collapsed 

“Thank you to all the members of our Farmingdale community for coming together to share this very important moment,” said FSC President Robert S. Prezant, PhD. “Twenty-five years, so distant and yet remains strong, remains recent, remains fully ingrained in our collective memories. We remember the sacrifices so many in our country made, the heroism, the loss, the exceptional sense of unity, and the enduring understanding and compassion that we experienced.”

President Prezant also introduced FSC’s new Memorial Bell, “which calls on future generations to serve with courage and compassion,” he said. 

The somber and dignified event featured FSC’s University Police Honor Guard, a Student Veteran Color Guard, bagpiper Mike Meehan, and remarks from Suffolk County Sheriff and FSC Adjunct Assistant Professor Errol D. Toulon, Jr., EdD; and Keri Hauff, inspector of investigations and auxiliary services. MarLa Roy and David Tuch performed “My Last Call,” and local poet, Yolanda Coulaz, shared a reading of her work, “Aftershock,” which was “written in the days following the World Trade Center attacks…and is dedicated to all of our first responders,” she said.  

“For many of us, it seems just like yesterday,” said Sheriff Toulon, who was a member of the New York City Department of Corrections at the time and helped with the recovery efforts as an EMT. “We remember the horror, the fear, and the uncertainty of that beautiful, beautiful day before that tragedy occurred. But most of all, we remember the innocent lives that were lost that day. And we remember the men and women who ran towards the danger. That is why it is so important that 25 years later we continue to tell the stories. Because there will be generations to come who will know it only as a moment in history. It is our responsibility to make sure they understand not only what happened that day, but whom we lost, who stepped forward, and the extraordinary courage and sacrifice that followed,” added Sheriff Toulon, who acknowledged New York City Police Department Officer Mark Ellis, a 1997 Criminal Justice graduate who was killed while rescuing victims trapped in the World Trade Center.

After the Memorial Ceremony, guests participated in a moving flag installation event in front of Horton Hall's 9/11 Memorial in honor of the lives lost, first responders and service members, loved ones, and commitments to perform acts of kindness or service for others.

To view more photos from FSC's 9/11 25th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony, please visit our Flickr Gallery. 

---