ST. GEORGE — Staten Island will honor the victims of 9/11 with a memorial ceremony, blood drive and street renaming for the 13th anniversary of the attacks.
Borough President James Oddo announced the details for Thursday's annual ceremony at the Postcards Memorial.
“The noble tradition of remembering our friends and neighbors who were taken from us on 9/11 carries on,” Oddo said.
“We at Borough Hall welcome all Staten Islanders to take this moment to come together as one community, pay our respects to those we lost, show our resolve to continue to endure, and to renew our support for each other.”
The 6:30 p.m. ceremony will have family members read off a list of the 275 Staten Islanders who died during the attacks, and invite them to place roses on their loved one's etchings in the memorial.
On Saturday, Councilwoman Debi Rose honored long-time West Brighton resident Kenneth J. Cubas, who died after he went back into to the south tower of the World Trade Center to help others.
The intersection of Dongan Street and Richmond Terrace was renamed the "Kenneth J. Cubas Way" to honor the 48-year-old who worked as vice president for Fiduciary Trust on the 97th floor of the second tower.
Cubas escaped the building after the planes crashed into the building, and called his mother to let her know he was OK, the Staten Island Advance reported.
He died rescuing people, Rose said.
“He went back to help people escape — scared, panicked people in need of a steady hand to safety,” Rose said. “He was not a trained first responder, but respond he did. We, the citizens of Staten Island and of the City of New York, will never forget the courageous, selfless acts of Kenneth J. Cubas.”
Oddo will also continue the annual 9/11 blood drive started by former Borough President James Molinaro on Tuesday at Borough Hall. This year's drive, held with Staten Island University Hospital and Richmond University Medical Center, is the third in a series of blood drives held by the new borough president.
“It is a fitting tribute for us to remember those who lost their lives that day by giving others the gift of life through blood donation,” Oddo said. “We are happy to continue a fine tradition of this office by hosting a blood drive in memory of those who tragically lost their lives on 9/11."
The 9/11 Blood drive will be on Sept. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Room 125 in Borough Hall, no appointments necessary. The 9/11 Memorial Ceremony will be on Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Postcards Memorial. All are invited to attend. To RSVP or questions, please contact Diane Marciuliano at (718) 816-2246.
