If a community could cry a collective tear, there’s great justification as to why the Borough of Carlstadt’s own would shed one of the largest. Since 2001, the small community of nearly 6,000 residents has suffered great loss, initially from the attacks on 9/11 and again from the repercussions of war that ensued.

The initial attacks took the life of a beloved pastor, a relative of a former mayor and dedicated serviceman readying himself for retirement. All three events that horrific day took one life each. Then came the aftermath, the war in Afghanistan and then Iraq. In 2004, the borough experienced its first casualty overseas and then last November, the Middle East consumed another life, a young fresh-faced hometown volunteer.

Now, just as the memories of those five have been etched into the memories of those who long for their return day in and day out, the borough is etching their names into perpetuity. A stained glass memorial, as high as the windows that encase the entrance to borough hall, is underway to honor Carlstadt’s loss and those who continue to fight overseas.

"This has been something two years in the making," said Mayor Will Roseman. "People have been using stained glass for monumental commemorations since the 12th Century. This is the only one of its type."

According to Roseman, the $75,000 memorial was masterminded through his efforts and those of the council, borough administrator Jane Fontana and the input of Reverend Donald Pitches of the First Presbyterian Church. Pitches, a firefighter and pastor who serves much of the town had been very close to many of the men and women the memorial stands for.

"I’m Presbyterian and our windows in the church are so stunning," said Roseman. "There’s something religious about stained glass, just as there is something religious about the events following 9/11."

Susan Bockius, a design consultant for the commissioned firm for the project, Willet Hauser Architectural Glass, said the memorial has been completed and the company will install the finished 12-by-22-foot piece in August in time for ceremonies commemorating the anniversary of 9/11. On Memorial Day, the bottom half commemorating those lost and still serving the War on Terror was already unveiled.

The piece, she stated, has taken since January 2006 to complete. The pure size and unique characteristics of the memorial, according to Bockius, is what made the process such a long one.

"All is done by hand, that is the only practical way to do something that is unique and has never been made before, especially with no patterns," she said. "We had about 20 artisans working on it as they did in 12th Century design techniques."

The design of the memorial is cut into two. The bottom half, having already been unveiled, includes etched names honoring 20-year-old Lance Corporal Michael Schwarz who was killed last November by a sniper in Iraq and Sergeant Frank T. Carvill who lost his life when his Humvee was ambushed in 2004. The other side carries plaques for the 12 residents on active duty in the military. If they come home, their plaque will be extracted and presented to them. If they don’t return, their names will also be etched.

The top half, which will be installed in August and unveiled at 9/11 ceremonies will carry the names of three who were killed and had connections to the borough. They will carry an emblem designating the site at which they were killed.

There was Joseph John Pycior Jr. who was killed in the Pentagon, just four months before his scheduled retirement from naval duty. There was Father Mychal Judge, the first registered death at the World Trade Center and a pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in East Rutherford. Many parishioners were from Carlstadt. Then, on her return home to California after attending a local funeral, Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, a former borough mayor’s granddaughter on American Airlines Flight 93, perished when the airplane crashed in the farmlands of Shanksville, PA.

Surrounding them, colored, hand blown glass from as far away as Italy, Spain and Germany will gleam with the images of the Statue of Liberty shadowed by an American flag blowing in the wind. The borough originally bonded for the $75,000 cost, but is in the process of sending out solicitations for donations. In return for a donation, that person or organization will have his or her name embossed in a book detailing the memorial and those who are honored. Roseman said the fire department, PBA and DPW have already raised and pledged $5,000 with a speculation the ambulance corps. would be matching that amount.

Councilman Robert Zimmerman said the idea for the memorial originated out of a concept of simply wanting to spruce up the front of borough hall. It then developed into so much more and the perfect way of keeping the ones who were lost, alive in Carlstadt’s heart.

"Believe it or not, I went to school with Joe Pycior throughout grammar school and high school and I have a picture at home from kindergarten when we must have been putting on a show for Memorial Day," he said. "There’s one kid in an Army uniform, one in a Marine’s uniform, then there is Joe with a Navy suit on. There’s a guy that knew what he always wanted to do and he did it. They really took the best from us, it’s a shame, but we’re really proud of what we can do now."

Roseman, who has dealt with every loss since 2001 as the head of the small tight-knit community, said the reason for such a memorial of grandeur and extravagant stature was not simply decided upon to spruce up Borough Hall. He said it wasn’t even an effort to outdo other memorials in other towns affected by the events on and following the attacks. He said sense of community itself in Carlstadt was justification enough."

"You know, Good Morning America said we were the most patriotic town; that sounds a bit like hokum because everyone knows everyone here," he said. "When you lose five of 6,000, there’s not really anyone that’s not going to be affected; not anyone who at least hasn’t heard or been touched by one of the lost."