9/11 Spirit lives on at Sunrise memorial

DINGMAN — Today will be the seventh year that Sunrise Lakes neighbors mark the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001 at their memorial park. Just off the entrance to Sunrise, the half-acre plot provides a quiet spot, where joggers may rest or someone might read a newspaper fresh from the nearby mailboxes. Developer Bill Ramagosa donated the land for the memorial, which was formerly a pool. “The President had been on TV talking about national unity and everybody wanted to do — something,” resident Bob Goldsack recalled. The park idea was born and his wife, Yolanda, helped organize a work day. Yolanda Goldsack, then secretary of the Taxpayers United group, sent letters to the community and business friends. “This was brush and woodland. Most everything you see here, happened in one day,” she explained. Scores of people turned out to help. Whispering Pines Garden Center donated the heavy lifting landscape work. Realtor Roy Hull donated the flag pole, and Ramagosa opened his quarry where three stones, representing the three sites attacked, were selected. Troop 540 of the Girl Scouts planted daffodils around the perimeter and others brought plants and shrubs. Tax collector Sandy Leiser donated a bench. Improvements continue each year. This year, they are unveiling a memorial stone, donated by state Senator Lisa Baker. Ramagosa still takes care of the mowing, but others, often anonymously, provide plantings and occasional repairs. “And there’s never been any vandalism here,” Bob Goldsack said.