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9/11 First Responders Won't Be At The 10th Anniversary Memorial
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 14, 2011
Modified Aug 14, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 14, 2011
Modified Aug 14, 2011
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With a deluge of requests pouring in, the city is attempting to accommodate as many people as possible to attend the tenth anniversary ceremony of the September 11th attacks at Ground Zero. One group that will not be attending the memorial en masse? First responders. The city claims they will be honored at a separate ceremony on a later date.
Space at the memorial is extremely limited. Even lawmakers from states besides New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are the only ones expected to be granted access based on the immense demand for seats and the additional security concerns spurred by the presence of President Obama. "I would like to to see as many people from around the country accommodated at Ground Zero as possible on September 11," Rep. Peter King tells the Daily News. "Our main concern at all times, however, must be the family members whose loved ones were murdered on 9/11."
But some responders feel that a ceremony on any other day than September 11 means less: "To have a separate service on another day has no significance, no meaning" a Queens volunteer told the paper. "For many of us, we gave a lot at that site." 91,000 people are estimated to have helped in the preliminary search and rescue efforts and the subsequent cleanup that took 10 months. 9/11 survivors may be granted access to the memorial based on the attendance of those who lost loved ones in the attacks.
Tagged
9/11
9/11 survivors
fdny
nypd
obama
peter king
september 11
war on terror
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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