Westbury cemetery's 9/11 memorial adding names of those lost to Ground Zero illnesses

For Eva Cole, knowing that the name of her late husband, Nassau County Police Officer Charles Cole Jr., will be added to the September 11 Memorial at the Cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury reminds her that people still care, and remember.

Charles Cole Jr. died in 2011 from brain cancer. The cancer, Eva Cole said, was related to his work at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

"It's heartwarming to know that people still remember and people still want to remember," Cole said.

Her husband's name, along with several others, will be engraved on the black marble memorial wall ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

The memorial already includes the names of more than 600 people who died on 9/11. There are also headstones of people who died that day and a version of the Pietá, which depicts the Virgin Mary holding Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. 

The additional names added to the memorial wall are for people, like Charles Cole, who responded and died later of related illnesses. Applications to add names to the wall will be accepted through the end of July.

Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island, which operates Holy Rood, allows families of victims and first responders of any faith the opportunity to add their loved ones' names to the memorial at no cost.

Richard Bie, president and CEO of Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island, said the significance of adding more names to the wall lies in the fact that more people die from 9/11-related illnesses every year.

"Those people are special too, and because they lost their life, or their life was cut short because of 9/11, we want to memorialize them here," Bie said. "It's a special thing and a special place for the families to come now and see their loved one, their name, their occupation, being placed on that memorial." 

Bie said the Cemetery of the Holy Rood's location, just south of the Westbury LIRR train, gives it an added significance for commuters who lost family or friends in the attacks nearly a quarter-century ago.

"Now every time that people pass by the cemetery, they can always think about their loved ones that are memorialized in this beautiful section," he said.

Cole, remembering her husband, described him as someone who remained upbeat and good-humored despite his illness.

"Even after the diagnosis, he tried his best to maintain that optimism and that happiness," she said. "He was strong."

Cole plans to visit memorials on the 25-year anniversary, including Holy Rood's, to say a prayer and remember her husband. 

Those looking to submit their loved one's names to be included in the memorial as well can do so at Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island's website.