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Chester Township
victim a symbol for all
"He was a great guy, a wonderful guy," said Fong, who accompanied his sister-in-law, Mary Froehner, to the Froehner Memorial for a 7:45 a.m. observance Monday. Fong met his wife, Eileen --Mary's sister -- because of his friendship and partnership with Froehner, the lone township resident to die that day. "It's a tough week," he said. "I'll probably go to the Trade Center later today."
This was the third year
of the observance, which was organized this year by the
Chester Volunteer Fire Company, and a couple of
youngsters. Rebecca Beach, 20, of Allamuchy, read
a Bible passage to the gathering and concluded her
remarks by saying, "It's my prayer that we leave here
with a new sense of
"I don't remember him as a Port Authority Policeman," he said. "I remember him as a fellow Little League coach." Kevin Hoffman, 17, Scott's son, then read the names of all those from Morris County who perished on Sept. 11. A bagpiper then played Amazing Grace and the crowd dissolved to get on with their day. Some stayed behind to wish well the Froehner family. An honor guard stood silently in front of the firehouse on Main Street from 8:46 a.m. when the first plane hit five years ago, to 10:29 a.m., when the last tower fell. Matt Manochio can be reached at (973) 989-0652 or mmanochi@gannett.com Copyright © 2006 The Daily Record
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Milton
Fong proudly wore his Port Authority Police Department
badge around his neck as he paid homage at a memorial in
Chubb Park dedicated to his partner, Gregg J. Froehner,
who died during the collapse of the World Trade Center
five years ago. 
The 46-year-old Froehner
was a group leader of the Port Authority's Elite
Emergency Services Unit and Special Operations and among
13 within this group killed when the towers collapsed. A
total of 37 Port Authority police officers died that
day. Fong said he was a block away from his
partner, who was in Tower One. "Nobody ever
thought those buildings were going to go down like
that," Fong said. 
The
ceremony in Chester Township was one of many across the
county with some having occurred Sunday, including a
Morris County event and an outdoor service in Mount
Olive. Other events Monday included a bell ringing and
prayer service in Hopatcong, a prayer service for Morris
Plains residents at the county Sept. 11th Memorial, a
liturgy in Mountain Lakes at St. Catherine of Siena
Parish and a Patriot Day ceremony held by Veterans of
Foreign Wars Memorial Post 7333 at their post in
Randolph.
In Chester Twp., Fong and Mary Froehner,
who was accompanied by two of her children, Katie, 15,
and Matt, 18, placed a red-white-and-blue wreath of
flowers next to the bronze plaque bearing Froehner's
name. More than 100 people gathered at the
tranquil garden at Chubb Park for a brief but reverent
observance. "It's beautiful, they always do such a
nice job," Mary Froehner said of the service. 
remembrance and resolve." The
audience, led by a local firefighter, sang the "Battle
Hymn of the Republic," before giving way to fire
department Chaplain Scott Hoffman, who led the group in
prayer. He also referred to the 2,977 tiny American
flags that were planted in the ground around the
memorial. "Those flags, every single one of them,
represents a life," he said, adding that when he thinks
of Froehner, he doesn't think of a law enforcement
officer.