More than two decades after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the toll of that day continues to grow. At Overlook Beach, the Town of Babylon and the Town of Babylon Fire Chiefs Association are planning a new post-9/11 memorial to honor town residents who later died from illnesses linked to toxic exposure at Ground Zero.
The memorial will recognize that deaths from 9/11-related illnesses have now surpassed those killed on the day of the attacks, with experts warning that thousands more may be diagnosed in the coming decades.
“Unfortunately, we believe these illnesses could continue for the next 25 to 30 years,” said Thomas Richardson, a Deer Park resident, former FDNY chief of department, and member of the Town of Babylon Fire Chiefs Association.
Planning is being led by the Chiefs Association, whose members bring decades of service and firsthand experience with the long-term effects of 9/11.
“This is really a team effort,” said Town of Babylon Councilman Terence McSweeney. “The Chiefs Association has led the way, with support from Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Tony Martinez and our DPW staff.”
McSweeney said the memorial is meant to reassure families that their loved ones have not been forgotten and to formally acknowledge the lasting human cost of 9/11.
“This is how the town reflects the nation’s gratitude to those who spent countless hours at the site,” he said. “It will give families a place to mourn, reflect, and find support.”
The post-9/11 memorial will be built alongside Babylon’s existing 9/11 memorial, completed in 2005, which honors the 48 town residents killed in the attacks. Families and Chiefs Association leaders urged a unified design so all sacrifices are recognized in one space.
As a result, the new memorial will mirror the original design, with completion targeted for Sept. 11, 2026. Funding will come through the town’s capital improvements budget.
McSweeney, an FDNY firefighter for more than 22 years, said the memorial also serves an educational purpose.
“If we don’t keep teaching what really happened and its long-term effects, history has a way of repeating itself,” he said.
While some memorials nationwide now include post-9/11 deaths, Babylon’s dedication is believed to be among the first on Long Island created specifically for town residents who later died from 9/11-related illnesses.
The memorial will honor not only first responders, but anyone who worked at the World Trade Center site and later died from exposure-related conditions recognized by the World Trade Center Health Program under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
For town leaders and the Chiefs Association, the memorial ensures that sacrifice is recognized not just on one day in history, but for generations to come.
Babylon Town Post-9/11 Memorial Eligibility Requirements:
Must have been a Babylon Town resident at some point during the rescue and recovery period
Must have been registered with the WTC Health Program or diagnosed with a certified 9/11-related illness
Must have passed away as a direct result of that certified illness
For more information or to apply, contact Councilman Terence McSweeney’s office at gmontes@townofbabylon ny.gov or 631-957-3081.
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