On Friday, November 6th, 2026, the Lindenhurst Village Historian’s office, and the Incorporated Village of Lindenhurst will proudly present “Lindenhurst- We Were There” – a documentary of loss, remembrance, unity, and endurance, told through the first-person accounts of Lindenhurst’s surviving family members, first responders, residents and community leaders. The documentary will have a red-carpet premiere at the Lindenhurst Moose Lodge #1421, located at 883 South Broadway, beginning at 7PM and is open to the public. Doors will open at 6:30PM.
“A generation has passed since that terrible day, September 11, 2001, and now more than ever the profound obligation we, as historians have to preserve and always remember September 11th is a responsibility, a solemn and sacred duty,” said Village Historian Anna Jaeger. Working with a dedicated committee of current and former Village officials, the Village Historian’s office commissioned Gerry Ferretti, independent filmmaker, playwright, musician, actor, and founder of the New York Long Island Film Festival (NYLIFF) to create a documentary filmed through a lens focused on the Lindenhurst perspective; capturing the events and aftermath of September 11th , bearing witness to the perseverance of the eight Lindenhurst families that remain forever affected by the unimageable loss of their loved ones, and the endeavor embraced by the Lindenhurst community to create and build the Lindenhurst Remembers September 11th Memorial Garden.
“We are grateful to Gerry for agreeing to direct and film this important chronicle, allowing us to continue to keep our promise to always remember, and commit to the principle of teaching the generations that will follow us,” said former Mayor Lynda Distler, who was Mayor of Lindenhurst when 9-11 occurred. “This documentary is an example of our community’s on-going commitment to always remember, to hold the families of the eight individuals lost that day in our hearts, and to pay tribute to the ongoing sacrifice of our first responders no matter how many years pass.”
“September 11th changed everything,” said current Mayor Michael Lavorata, “and the repercussions will be felt for generations to come. These stories, as told by surviving family members, first responders, survivors, and residents are important; they need to be told, preserved, and shared with our children, the future of our Lindenhurst community. Beginning on September 12, 2001, our community has gathered annually in remembrance and in solidarity to never forget. This film is a testament to the pledge Lindenhurst made to honor and pay tribute to those we lost, those who survived, and to those who sacrificed during the rescue and recovery efforts.”
“Lindenhurst- We Were There”, said Lindenhurst Village Trustee and former Village Administrator Douglas Madlon, “was funded entirely though private donations. Viewers will hear firsthand accounts of loss, courage, perseverance, and remembrance. The documentary was filmed entirely on location in Lindenhurst including Village Hall, the Lindenhurst Fire Department Headquarters, the Grace United Methodist Church, and of course the Lindenhurst Remembers September 11th Memorial Garden which provided a poignant and hallowed backdrop to the stories and reflections shared by some of the nearly 40 contributors whose interviews and remembrances will remain with us, like the Memorial Garden, in perpetuity.”