On Thursday, Ramapo Police Chief Dan Hyman and Clarkstown Police Chief Jeff Wanamaker joined law enforcement colleagues, intelligence partners, and community security organizations at the 9/11 Living Memorial in Jerusalem, Israel. The ceremony brought together representatives from the Community Security Initiative, Community Security Service, Israel Police, Israel Defense Forces, the Major City Chiefs delegation, Ambassador Mike Huckabee, and NYC first responders to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The memorial, the only 9/11 monument outside the United States that lists all the victims’ names, features a 30-foot sculpture of an American flag rising into a flame, built on steel remnants from the Twin Towers—a symbol of remembrance and resilience.
Town of Ramapo officials emphasized that standing in Israel, a region currently confronting acts of terror, underscores the town’s ongoing commitment to remain vigilant in protecting communities from violence, hatred, and extremism.
The evening program included a moving performance by 17-year-old Dafna Elyakim, who was kidnapped during the October 7 attacks and freed in the first hostage exchange. She performed alongside Israeli singer Yonatan Artzi, singing a Hebrew song about returning home. The ceremony concluded with a rendition of “Hatikva” led by the Lev Ofir Children’s Choir, composed of children from communities devastated on October 7—a poignant reminder of resilience and the shared struggle against terror.
Organizers and participants alike reaffirmed the promise that the memory of 9/11 will never be forgotten, and paid tribute to the courage and sacrifice of first responders.
