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NYC Observes 19th Anniversary Of September 11th Attacks
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 11, 2020
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Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP/Shutterstock
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 11, 2020
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Ceremonies in Lower Manhattan will mark the 19th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, and, in this election year, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and Vice President Mike Pence will attend different events blocks apart.
[UPDATE[ The F-18 flyover "on the Hudson River towards the Verrazzano Bridge" has been cancelled, according to City Hall. NY1 first reported that the Department of Defense cancelled the oddly-timed flyover. However, Notify NYC's Tweet is still active:
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum is holding its annual observation of the anniversary at the 9/11 Memorial plaza at the World Trade Center site, remembering the 2,977 people killed at the Twin Towers, Pentagon, and on Flight 93, which crashed into Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11th, 2001, plus the six people who were killed during the February 26th, 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center.
In previous years, family members would read aloud victims's names; this year, due to pandemic concerns, the names were recorded by family members and will be broadcast on speakers. The museum says, "Family members will be able to stand at their loved one’s name on the Memorial while hearing their name read aloud." (You can read the names of victims here.) The 9/11 Memorial and Museum will stream live on their website; here is the schedule:
8:46 a.m. Citywide moment of silence (observance of time American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower)
(Houses of worship will toll their bells throughout the city)
Reading of names begins
9:03 a.m. Moment of silence (observance of time United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower)
Reading of names continues
9:37 a.m. Moment of silence (observance of time American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon)
Reading of names continues
9:59 a.m. Moment of silence (observance of time of the fall of the South Tower)
Reading of names continues
10:03 a.m. Moment of silence (observance of time United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania)
Reading of names continues
10:28 a.m. Moment of silence (observance of time of the fall of the North Tower)
Reading of names continues
Reading of names concludes
11:30 a.m. Program concludes
Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will attend the 9/11 Memorial and Museum's ceremony, while Vice President Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence will be at the Tunnel to Towers' Foundation ceremony at Zuccotti Park. The nonprofit decided to hold an independent ceremony after the 9/11 Memorial and Museum scrapped the live reading of the names; approximately 126 family members of victims will be participating in the ceremony.
After the New York ceremony, the Bidens will be traveling to Shanksville to pay their respects; President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be there in the morning.
On Friday, at dusk, the Tribute in Light will return, with twin beams—made up of 88 7,000-watt xenon light bulbs placed in two 48-foot squares—reaching to the sky until sunrise. The beloved light installation was initially canceled over whether the display could be safely mounted amidst social distancing concerns, but New York State stepped in with extra funds. Tunnel to Towers was going to launch a replacement light tribute if the Tribute lights didn't shine; now the group has organized lights at the Pentagon and in Shanksville.
It's also bird migration season, and the lights frequently confuse birds. If you see the Tribute in Light flicker, it's because NYC Audubon is working with organizers to ensure avian safety.
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9/11 memorial and museum
9/11 attacks
world trade center
september 11
9/11
tunnel to towers
tribute in light
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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