Activists: 9/11 memorials in disrepair

Some of the "Never Forget" memorials constructed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks are being forgotten and falling into disrepair, activists say. The 9/11 memorial at Eisenhower Park

News 12 Staff

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May 3, 2016, 3:14 AM

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Updated 3,179 days ago

Some of the "Never Forget" memorials constructed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks are being forgotten and falling into disrepair, activists say.

The 9/11 memorial at Eisenhower Park is among the sites.

"I think it would be nice to keep it up a little better," says Brandon Robinson, of Levittown. "I feel like it would be an honorable thing to do."

At Eisenhower Park, tiles are missing, and the water fountain was empty -- except for litter. The flags are dirty and fraying, and graffiti, chipped paint and garbage round out the scene.

"We gotta keep it nice, but sometimes people don't respect things," says Jose Gonzalez, of Hempstead.

The memorial cost $1.6 million to build in 2003. Half of the money came from donations, the other half from Nassau County.

The memorial pays tribute to 344 heroes and residents from Long Island who died in the attacks.

Ian Siegel, the former president of the 9/11 Memorial Foundation, says the memorial is on county property and needs to be properly maintained by the county's Parks Department.

"I would just hope that the county revisits its maintenance schedule for the memorial," Siegel says. "They can definitely do better."