Angel Circle

For New Yorkers, especially those on Staten Island, Angel Circle is more than just a park; it is a profoundly significant and deeply moving memorial dedicated to the lives lost during the tragic events of September 11, 2001. This hallowed ground serves as a perpetual tribute to the nearly 300 Staten Islanders, including members of the NYPD, FDNY, and the Armed Forces, who perished on that fateful day. It stands as a testament to the borough's immense loss and its enduring spirit of remembrance. Always "cleaned and well kept," Angel Circle offers a solemn yet beautiful space for reflection, a place where families and community members can gather to honor their loved ones and ensure that their sacrifices are never forgotten. As many locals know, Staten Island was disproportionately affected, and this memorial uniquely captures that deeply personal connection.

Angel Circle is thoughtfully located on a traffic island at the intersection of Fingerboard Road and Hylan Boulevard, specifically at 425-431 Fingerboard Rd, Staten Island, NY 10305, USA. This central location in the Grasmere neighborhood makes it easily accessible for residents across Staten Island. For those utilizing public transportation, numerous local bus routes run along Fingerboard Road and Hylan Boulevard, providing convenient access to the memorial. It’s also relatively close to major Staten Island thoroughfares, allowing for easy access by car. While it is on a traffic island, dedicated attention has been given to ensuring safe pedestrian access for visitors who wish to pay their respects. Limited street parking may be available in the surrounding residential areas, but given its nature as a memorial, visitors are encouraged to be mindful of local parking regulations and pedestrian safety. The visible and accessible location ensures that the community can easily visit this important site.

Angel Circle functions primarily as a memorial site, and its "services" are focused on providing a respectful and maintained space for remembrance and reflection.

• Permanent Memorialization: The core service is to provide a permanent, publicly accessible memorial for the Staten Islanders lost on 9/11, including photographs of the victims mounted on individual stands.
• Space for Personal Tributes: Families and friends are welcome to leave mementos, flowers, American flags, and other trinkets in front of the photographs, creating a deeply personal and evolving tribute.
• Vigilance and Upkeep: The memorial is independently run and meticulously maintained, often through the efforts of its founder, Wendy Pellegrino, and dedicated volunteers and local businesses (like florists), ensuring it remains clean and well-kept.
• Commemorative Ceremonies: The memorial hosts annual ceremonies, particularly around September 11th (often on September 10th to allow families to attend Ground Zero on the actual anniversary), where names are read aloud, and lives are celebrated.
• Quiet Reflection Area: The presence of benches and a peaceful environment allows visitors a space for quiet contemplation and grief.
• Educational Site: It serves as a poignant educational site for younger generations, visually demonstrating the profound impact of 9/11 on the Staten Island community.

Angel Circle is rich with features and highlights that underscore its significance as a unique and heartfelt memorial:

• Personalized Tributes: One of its most striking features is the display of more than 200 photographs of the Staten Island victims, each on a stand with their name and birthday, providing an intimate connection to those lost.
• Community-Driven Creation: The memorial began organically on the night of 9/11 by Wendy Pellegrino and evolved with extensive community support, reflecting a truly grassroots effort to remember.
• "Forgotten Borough" Acknowledgment: Reviewers highlight its importance for Staten Island, often referred to as the "Forgotten Borough," as it prominently honors its specific losses, particularly those from NYPD, FDNY, and the Armed Forces.
• Always Maintained: Consistent praise from visitors about the memorial being "always cleaned and well kept" speaks to the dedication of its caretakers, making it a respectful and beautiful space to visit.
• Angel Statues and Symbolism: The presence of angel statues, coupled with the name "Angel Circle," evokes a powerful symbolic meaning of the "angels" lost in the attacks, creating a "circle of love" and a "landing zone for our angels."
• Emotional Impact: Visitors frequently describe the memorial as incredibly emotional and poignant, with many finding themselves moved to tears by the personal tributes and the raw reminder of the day.
• Accessibility for Families: The improved parking restrictions and dedicated access ensure that families, including seniors and those with mobility challenges, can easily visit and pay their respects.

Angel Circle, as a privately maintained 9/11 memorial, does not offer commercial "promotions" or "special offers" in the traditional business sense. Its primary "promotion" is its continued existence as a vital, free, and accessible public space for remembrance.

However, its operations rely heavily on community support and donations, which could be seen as an ongoing "offer" for the community to contribute. For instance:

• Fundraising Campaigns: Organizations, like the Vigilance Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, often host fundraisers to benefit Angel Circle, allowing the community to financially support its upkeep and ensure its longevity. These fundraising efforts are critical to maintaining the memorial's pristine condition.
• Volunteer Opportunities: While not a financial promotion, the opportunity for individuals and groups to volunteer their time for maintenance, cleaning, or assisting with memorial events is a significant "offer" to the community to get involved in a meaningful way.
• Community Events: The annual memorial ceremonies and other gatherings held at Angel Circle are free and open to the public, offering a poignant and inclusive way for New Yorkers to participate in remembrance.

For those wishing to support Angel Circle, information regarding current fundraising efforts or volunteer needs would typically be communicated through local Staten Island news outlets, community organizations, or direct appeals from the memorial's founder, Wendy Pellegrino. These avenues represent the "promotional" outreach of the memorial to ensure its continued ability to serve the community.

For general inquiries or to learn more about Angel Circle, including how to contribute to its upkeep or participate in memorial events, please use the following information:

Address: 425-431 Fingerboard Rd, Staten Island, NY 10305, USA

As Angel Circle is an independently run memorial, it does not have a formal public office or a dedicated phone number for general inquiries in the same way a municipal park might. However, information about its founder and caretaker, Wendy Pellegrino, and community efforts to support the memorial are often shared through local news and dedicated fundraising platforms.

Contact for Donations/Support: Information on how to donate or volunteer is typically found through fundraising campaigns or articles published by Staten Island news outlets. For instance, past fundraising campaigns have been hosted on platforms like FundtheFirst.com.

For the most up-to-date information on upcoming ceremonies or events, it is advisable for locals to monitor Staten Island community news sources, especially around the anniversary of 9/11. These sources often provide direct contact information for those organizing the memorial's activities.

Angel Circle is profoundly suitable for locals in New York, particularly those on Staten Island, as a vital place of remembrance and reflection. In a city that has deeply felt the impact of 9/11, this memorial offers a unique and intimate connection to the lives lost, especially those from within the borough's own community, including uniformed service members. It serves as a sacred space for personal grieving and collective remembrance, providing solace for families who may not have had a physical resting place for their loved ones. The continuous upkeep and dedicated care of the memorial by its founder and volunteers ensure that it remains a respectful and beautiful site for future generations. For New Yorkers, visiting Angel Circle is not merely a stroll through a park; it's an immersive, educational, and deeply emotional experience that reinforces the importance of "never forgetting." It's a place where the community's resilience and enduring love for its heroes are visibly manifested, making it an indispensable part of Staten Island's landscape and a powerful symbol of remembrance for the entire city.

Angel Circle

425-431 Fingerboard Rd, Staten Island, NY 10305, USA