Nesconset 9/11 walls to honor responders

Robert Helmke's name appears on several memorials for fallen police officers. But the tributes to the late New York City cop seemed incomplete to his widow, Greta Helmke of Hauppauge.

That's because there was no memorial listing Robert Helmke, who died from cancer in 2007 at age 43, alongside hundreds of others who died after they participated in the cleanup of the World Trade Center site.

Greta Helmke wanted a memorial listing all cleanup workers together -- cops, firefighters and construction workers.

"I've been wanting to do this for the longest time," Helmke said. "I want people to remember him and the other people that died."

Her dreams of such a memorial will come true Sept. 10, when 9/11 Responders Remembered Park opens at the intersection of Gibbs Pond Road and Smithtown Boulevard in Nesconset. Organizers say the park is the only one in the world honoring workers who died from illnesses linked to their work at the Twin Towers site.

The names of almost 1,000 workers will be etched in granite on three walls. The memorial can be expanded so more names can be added as other ill workers die. More than 5,000 responders are enrolled in treatment programs.

"Tragically," said Errol Toulon Jr., of Lake Grove, president of the group building the park, "the number of people on our wall will ultimately surpass the number who died on 9/11."

Efforts to build the park began two years ago after a proposal by John Feal, a Nesconset construction worker injured at the trade center site. Suffolk County Legis. John Kennedy (R-Nesconset) enlisted Smithtown architect Mark Mancini to draw up plans.

The park will be partially enclosed by a concrete barrier, forming a place where visitors can quietly contemplate the names on the wall. "This is their final home," Feal said.

Private donations are paying for the $150,000 construction cost. Much of the work has been donated by union laborers and contractors, and businesses and organizations have provided support. The park is being built on land donated by Suffolk County and the Town of Smithtown.

"We talked about: What could we do to try to bring some recognition for those families?" Kennedy said. "As the 10th anniversary comes up, it's something that's on everybody's mind."

Completing the park has not been easy. Some promises of donated services disappeared, and organizers found themselves competing with other 9/11 memorials for cash donations.

"It's tough economic times for people, and there's so many memorials," Toulon said.

The intersection near the park will be named for Robert Helmke. That brings some solace to Greta Helmke and the couple's children, Amelia, 7, and Garrett, 9.

"They have so many questions, but mostly they miss their dad," Greta Helmke said. "As they get older, they understand. But being involved has helped them."