PHOTOS: Commack Community Honors Heroes and Victims of 9/11

Hundreds of residents from the Commack community gathered on the Heroes Memorial Field at Commack High School Sunday night to remember the heroes of Sept. 11, 2001.

The candelight ceremony marked the tenth year the Commack School District has honored the lives lost on that day, and those who continue to sacrifice. 

Members of the Huntington Marine Color Guard and Firing Detail, the New York City Police Department Honor Guard, the Commack Fire Department and Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corp. marched under a large American Flag, past the Twin Towers replica on the field to begin the ceremony. 

Board of Education President MaryJo Masciello served as Master of Ceremonies, and Superintendent Donald James read a poem to the crowd.

, a Commack resident and member of the FealGood Foundation and gave an emotional speech, recalling his days spent at Ground Zero immediately following the attacks. He also gave mention to some of those first responders who bravely gave their lives on 9/11.

Masciello, James and Ryder were joined by guest speakers Rep. Steve Israel, state Sen. John Flanagan and retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Anthony Kropp.

Christy Spear spoke in honor of her friend Justin Wilson, a member of the Commack High School class of 2004 who was killed in Afghanistan last year.

A 21-gun salute and crowd-wide performance of "God Bless America" closed out the ceremony.

Afterwards, the community was invited to admire the Healing Quilt, a memorial created students at Commack Middle School. Many stopped to gaze at the illuminated refelction pool on the field, which sat beside a piece of steel from one of the fallen Towers.