Memorial without a memory

APOLOGETIC officials in a small New Jersey town yesterday rushed to remove a stone marker commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11 amid an uproar about what the monument didn't include - any reference to what happened or to the victims - and what it did include: the names of the mayor and other local officials.

Samir Elbassiouny, mayor of Washington Township, a 6,600-resident community in northwest New Jersey's Warren County, said yesterday that he did not mean to put up a marker that looked as if it was about officials, not the victims.

He also said that people who were so angry about the stone were blowing it out of proportion.

"The most important thing is for us not to take away from the intent of the event," he said. "It's truly a misunderstanding. The intent is to honor the victims of 9/11."

The stone, which looks like a small headstone and was installed last week, reads: "Dedicated September 11, 2011. 10 Year Anniversary." That's followed by the names of the mayor, committee members and township administrator.

Elbassiouny said the town would put an overlay on the offensive marker. It will take off the names of the officials and honor the victims of the attacks.