Gerritsen Beach Lutheran Church WTC in Belfry of Church That Signalled Return to Normalcy
The Gerritsen Beach Lutheran Church in Brooklyn achieved fame in September 2001 when Rudolph Guilianai signalled a return to normalcy when he walked Diane Gorumba down the aisle on September 16 to her husband-to-be, Michael Ferrito. Guiliani promised to give Gorumba away after her grandfather, father and finally, her brother, passed away in the previous year. Her brother, a firefighter, had agreed to take her father’s place, but died in an Aug. 28 2001 fire.
In 2002, two slabs of WTC steel were placed in the church belfry to support its bell.
Extra steel from this endeavor was placed in the Gerritsen Beach Branch Brooklyn Public Library where the public may touch it.
In addition, Gerritsen Beach Little League Field was renamed for Larry Veling, a FireFighter from Engine Co. 235. Six people from the neighborhood perished on 9/11.
