People of all ages are expected to converge on the hallowed Revolutionary War ground to honor and pay tribute to Patrick “Joe” Driscoll, Chris Gray, Tom McCann and all other area residents who died that day.
A 5-kilometer walk through the park will be part of the morning’s activities, which will also include remarks from family members and members of the clergy.
All proceeds from the Walk With Joe are donated to local charities, scholarships and other nonprofit organizations, according to organizers of the event.
More than $370,000 has been donated to organizations that include the Samaritan Center in Manalapan, Freehold Area Open Door, the Flight 93 National Memorial and Monmouth Battlefield State Park, according to the organizers.
Gray, who was an exchange trader at Cantor Fitzgerald in 2001, was born and raised in Manalapan, graduating from Manalapan High School, where he played football for the Braves.
Gray earned a football scholarship and attended West Virginia University where he played quarterback for the Mountaineers while earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.
McCann, a 23-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York, was an initial first responder on Sept. 11 as a member of Engine Company 65.
Gray and McCann lost their lives at the World Trade Center in New York City when two hijacked airplanes brought down the twin towers.
Driscoll was a Manalapan resident for more than 35 years and was an active member of the community.
He was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 which crashed in Shanksville, Pa., after passengers fought back against the terrorists who had taken control of the plane from the crew. No one survived the plane’s crash into the Pennsylvania countryside.
Authorities later said the hijackers’ plan may have been to crash Flight 93 into the White House or the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
At the Pentagon in Arlington County, Va., a hijacked airplane was flown into the building that is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. Nearly 200 people died at that location.
The first Walk With Joe was held in September 2002. Registration is $20 per person and children under 7 are free. For more information, visit www.walkwithjoe.com, call 732-786-3437 or email joesfriends@walkwithjoe.com
