Annual memorial honors victims of fatal 1980's Brink's robbery; street renamed for 2 victims
A memorial was held to honor and remember three lives that were cut short in 1981 after a group of radicals robbed a Brink's truck in Rockland County.
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On Friday, an annual memorial was held in Rockland County to remember the lives lost in the Brink's truck robbery 42 years ago.
In 1981, a group of left-wing radicals robbed $1.6 million from a Brink's truck at the Nanuet Mall. A Brink's guard, Peter Paige, was killed during the heist.
"My father was my hero," said Michael Paige, the son of Peter Paige. "Oct. 20 is by far the hardest day for all our families. But to just come here and see the show of support, still 42 years to the day, is uplifting and incredible."
While attempting to escape, the radicals ambushed police and killed Nyack Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown.
The three radicals, David Gilbert, Kathy Boudin and Judith Clark, were arrested and convicted. They were all released. Boudin has since died.
Family, friends, and community members gather to remember O'Grady, Brown, and Paige every year.
"People come here every year; they don't come here because it's just something to do. This is very important to this community, to remember and to never forget," explained Constance Frazier, the cousin of Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown.
This year, Lydecker Street in Nyack was also renamed for O’Grady and Brown immediately before the memorial.
