Avella to Host 9/11 Motorcade on Sept. 6

State. Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, will take a solemn ride around his district on Sept. 6 to pay tribute to local victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.

Avella hosts an annual motorcade every year since 9/11, during which he is joined by the families and friends of firefighters, police officers and civilians who died on 9/11.

He said he expects his largest attendance yet during the tenth anniversary of the attacks.

“We’ve expanded the route I used to do for my old City Council district into my Senate district,” he said. “We reached out and found additional names for streets that have been named after 9/11 victims.”

This year, the senator and the motorcade’s attendees will stop to lay a wreath and pause for a moment of silence at 22 streets renamed after 9/11 victims throughout northeast and south Queens.

Each year, Avella holds the event prior to Sept. 11 because he does not want his motorcade to conflict with the ceremony held at Ground Zero.

“We want the families to come along with us,” he said. “A lot of them are down at the World Trade Center site on Sept. 11."

He expects a total 15 cars or more full of people to take part in this year’s event, which could run as long as three hours.

The senator said he believes it is important for the city to continue its annual commemoration ceremonies for 9/11.

“For me, it doesn’t seem that long ago,” he said. “This was an historic event for many of us. And the people who lost their lives that day should never be forgotten.”

Cars will line up Tuesday morning at 130th Street and 25th Ave. in College Point.

The motorcade will kick off at 10 a.m., making its first stop at Firefighter Michael J. Elferis Street, which is on the east side of 130th Street at 25th Avenue.

The second stop, Firefighter Michael Haub Road, is at the corner of 14th Road and 120th Street, while the third is Battalion Chief Lawrence T. Stack Street, located at the corner of 11th Avenue and 123rd Street. Both streets are located in College Point.

Then, the procession will move on to Thomas J. Shubert Avenue, located at 11th Avenue and 127th Street in College Point and PFC James E. Prevete Avenue at the corner of 147th Place and 5th Avenue in Whitestone.

The next two stops, both of which are in Whitestone, are Firefighter Michael Carlo Avenue at the corner of 149th Street and 8th Avenue and Thomas A. Casoria Way at the corner of 22nd Avenue and 150th Street.

The motorcade will then head over to Firefighter Carl F. Asaro Way, located at the corner of Willets Point Boulevard and 147th Street in Whitestone, and Firefighter Timothy M. Welty Street, which is at the corner of 32nd Avenue and 139th Street in Auburndale.

The next stop is William M. Feehan Triangle at 164th Street and the 27th Avenue Triangle in Flushing, which will be followed by Michael D. Mullan FDNY Way at Jordan Street and 33rd Avenue in Bayside.

The drive will continue to Captain James J. Corrigan Way on Francis Lewis Boulevard between 35th Avenue and 200th Street in Bayside before heading to Captain Vincent F. Giammona Way at 42nd Avenue and 202nd Street in Auburndale.

The procession will move on to Firefighter Andrew Christopher Brunn Street, which is at the corner of 211th Street and 41st Avenue, and Glenn J.  Travers Way Sr. 9/11 Memorial Way, located at at 28th Avenue and 211th Street. Both sites are in Bayside.

The final stop will be Christopher Racaniello 9/11 Memorial Way at the corner of Marathon Parkway and Thornhill Avenue in Little Neck.