ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11, 30-YEAR-OLD DEREK JAMES STATKEVICUS WHO GREW UP IN APALACHIN WILL BE REMEMBERED IN 8:30 a.m. CEREMONIES AT THE TOWN OF OWEGO’S 9/11 MEMORIAL IN HICKORIES PARK.
DEREK WAS THE SON OF JOSEPH AND NANCY STATKEVICUS. HE GRADUATED FROM VESTAL HIGH SCHOOL IN 1989. HE EARNED HIS EAGLE SCOUT RANK WITH APALACHIN TROOP 43.
DEREK GRADUATED CUM LAUDE FROM ITHACA COLLEGE. HE WAS EMPLOYED BY KBW BANK WITH OFFICES ON THE 86TH FLOOR OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, SOUTH TOWER.
IN 2001 DEREK LIVED IN NORWALK, CONNETICUT, WITH HIS WIFE KIMBERLY AND THEIR ONE YEAR-OLD SON TYLER. AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK, KIMBERLY WAS PREGNANT WITH THEIR SECOND SON DEREK CHASE WHO WAS BORN ON JANUARY 2ND, 2002.
DEREK’S PARENTS NOW LIVE IN ARIZONA BUT PLAN TO ATTEND FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF THE 9/11 MEMORIAL AND GRANITE BENCH IN HIS MEMORY. THEY’LL HEAR TRIBUTES FOR THEIR SON FROM TOWN OF OWEGO DEPUTY SUPERVISOR DEAN MORGAN, FELLOW EAGLE SCOUT AND NOW NEW YORK STATE TROOPER STEVE AYRES.
TROOP 43 EAGLE SCOUT AND SCOUTMASTER MIKE MARTINEZ – THE POSITION DEREK’S DAD JOSEPH HAD – WILL SPEAK AFTER LEADING THE SCOUTS IN THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW. TROOP 38 SCOUTMASTER CHUCK BIRDSALL HAS TWO EAGLE SCOUTS CAMERON MERCER AND JACK HRUSTICH TO ESCORT THE PARENTS.
PROGRM SPEAKERS INCLUDE HOST TOWN OF OWEGO SUPERVISOR DON CASTELLUCCI, OFFICER MATT TALLON WHO’LL REMEBER THREE NEW YORK COURT SECURITY OFFICERS, NEW YORK STATE POLICE CAPTAIN ERIC DAUBER REMEMBERING NYSP OFFICER ED KILUK, 124TH DISTRICT NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYMAN CHRIS FRIEND, TIOGA COUNTY LEGISLATIVE CHAIR MARTY SAUERBREY.
OWEGO FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE POLICE LIEUTENTANT JOHN HITCHINGS WILL RING THE FIREMAN’S BELL AT 8:46, 9:03, 9:37, 10:07. RETIRED OWEGO FIRE CHIEF KEN EASTON WILL REMEMBER HIS TEAM OF EMS VOLUNTEERS WHO RESPONDED TO GROUND ZERO TO HELP FELLOW FIRE FIGHTERS IN NYC. DECEASED OWEGO FIREMEN OVER THE YEARS WILL BE REMEMBERED.
AERIAL TRUCK AMERICAN FLAG DISPLAY BY CAMVPILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HONOR GUARD OF THE GLENN A. WARNER POST 1371 POSTS THE COLORS. BAG PIPER PETE ZIOLOSKI LEADS THE COLOR GUARD AND EXITS WITH AMAZING GRACE. RIFLE VOLLEY. TAPS BY STEVE PALINOSKY. INVOCATION BY PASTOR TOM O’CONNER. BENEDICTION BY RETIRED REV. EARL ARNOLD. NATIONAL ANTHEM BY ANDREA McBRIDE. MASTER OF CEREMONIES JIM RAFTIS.
20th annual Owego 9/11 Ceremony to remember former Apalachin Eagle Scout
