A Somber Moment During a Day of Celebration

Tom and JoAnn Meehan stood quietly on the grass at Veterans Park early yesterday evening, as the band blared "Viva Las Vegas" as part of the Berkeley Pride Day celebration.

They were weary. The couple attended the "Empty Sky" 9-11 memorial dedication Saturday, then raced back to Bayville in time to make it to the township's 9-11 ceremony and dedication of a piece of Twin Towers steel.

Today they will be on their way to Ground Zero. They will listen to their son Daryl read the names of some of those lost on September 11, including his sister . Then they plan to attend a luncheon hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald, her employer.

The first few years after 26-year-old Colleen died on the 103rd floor of the North Tower, the Meehans had a hard time going out in public, Tom Meehan said.

"It took a long time to get used to it," he said before the ceremony.

Sometimes it's still hard. Both Tom and JoAnn still have near-anxiety attacks when they go to Ground Zero. But they do it for Colleen.

Mayor Jason J. Varano asked the couple to come up and stand next to the piece of Twin Towers steel they had helped to procure for the township.

"They pointed us in the right direction," the mayor said. "They endorsed us to get a piece of the World Trade Center. Let's give them a round of applause."

And the crowd did.

Varano also asked all township residents to observe a national moment of silence at 1 p.m. today, to honor all those lost on that dark day ten years ago. He also asked for a moment of silence at last night's service.

"It brings back a lot of memories," Varano said. "I'm sure many of you have lost someone or know someone who lost someone."

The township also remembered Don Marshall, former commander of the V.F.W. Post 9503 and James Mooney of Ocean Gate. Both men dedicated many hours to Berkeley Pride Day over the years. Mooney died in an accident last year and Marshall died after a sudden illness.

"We are still heartbroken with the loss of Don Marshall and Jim Mooney," said David Schick, township special events coordinator.

Mooney sang "God Bless America" or the national anthem at previous Berkeley Pride Days. Members of Mooney's family cried as Shick played a recording of Mooney singing at last year's event.

The rusted piece of Twin Towers steel will eventually be embedded in concrete in front of the 9-11 marble monument at the park. But the ground was too sodden with the recent rains to complete the job in time for the memorial service, Varano has said.