Annual Tribute in Light to shine again to mark 23 years since 9/11 terror attacks

The iconic Tribute in Light installation will return once again this year to mark 23 years since the 9/11 terror attacks in Lower Manhattan.

LOWER MANHATTAN (WABC) -- The iconic Tribute in Light will return once again this year to mark 23 years since the 9/11 terror attacks.

The art installation can be seen within a 60-mile radius around Lower Manhattan from dusk on Sept. 11 to dawn on Sept. 12.

The twin beams of light, meant to evoke the original Twin Towers, have become a regular symbol for how New Yorkers remember the city's resilience after the attacks.

"With more than 100 million Americans born since 9/11 or too young to remember that tragic day, it's imperative that we inspire a new generation by sharing the unity and resilience of our collective response. Tribute in Light's twin beams reach high into the night sky to remind everyone of who and what we lost -and found --23 years ago," said Beth Hillman, 9/11 Memorial & Museum President and CEO.

The Tribute in Light was first presented six months after 9/11 in March 2002, while rescue, recovery, and relief efforts at Ground Zero continued.

"On 9/11, the world turns its eyes to New York City, where the lights that pierce our skyline symbolize our collective memory and unwavering strength," said New York Assemblyman Charles Fall. "It is our solemn duty to ensure that these lights continue to shine brightly each year, honoring the lives we lost and the resilience that defines our city."

We will Remember them

23 years ago many of us still remember how our lives changed forever. We lost our innocence, but we gained a strength we never knew we had. 

Some families who lost loved ones will never fully recover from the events of that tragic day.  

About 40% of victims from the World Trade Center have still not been identified. We pray they will one day, and their loved ones maybe will have some comfort finally.

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/01/19/long-island-man-identified-victim-911-attacks/72274823007/

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911 Remembered - September 11, 2015

Fourteen years later, the attacks of September 11, 2001 are still keenly felt.

Rising from the ashes of Ground Zero, the new One World Trade Center opened just last November; the 94-story building's observation deck opened to tourists earlier this year. This week, a new memorial museum opened in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where Flight 93 crashed after passengers interfered with al Qaeda hijackers.

Two moments of silence have been held in New York at the exact time 14 years ago that the two planes struck the towers of the World Trade Center.

Families of victims of the 2001 and 1993 World Trade Center attacks read out their names at Ground Zero, where the towers fell.

The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people, including more than 2,700 in New York.

A flag was raised at a ceremony at the Pentagon in Virginia, where a third plane crashed, killing 184 people.

In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where a fourth plane crashed, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said passengers on United Airlines flight 93 "most likely saved hundreds or thousands of lives by losing their own."

At Ground Zero, Nereida Valle carried a photo of her daughter, Nereida DeJesus, who was 31 and working on the 98th floor of the south tower when she died.

"I feel her every day," she said.

Schedule for annual 9/11 remembrance, how you can participate

A "9/11: A Day That Changed America" photo exhibit and a pickup truck that the New York-New Jersey Port Authority used in rescue efforts following the attacks will be displayed Friday, Sept. 11, at the downtown museum, 303 Pearl St. NW. That same day, area boy scouts will salute the American flag outside the museum from sunrise until sunset.

Museum admission will be free 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11.

• 7:18 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, Area boy scouts start saluting the flag at sunrise. Public participation is welcome at any time.

• 8:40 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, Honor Guard lowers the flag to half-staff

• 8:45 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, There's a moment of silence and remembrance

• 8:46 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, A bell rings one time, at the time when a plane crashed into the first World Trade Center tower

• 8:50 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell speaks

• 9:03 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, A bell rings one time, at the time when a plane crashed into the second World Trade Center tower

• 9:37 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, A bell rings one time, at the time when a plane crashed into the Pentagon

• 10:03 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, A bell rings one time, at the time United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field in Pennsylvania

• noon Friday, Sept. 11, a public ceremony honors police, fire, emergency medical service and military personnel

• 12:30-2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, there's a K-9 unit demonstration with meet and greet at Ah-Nab-Awen Park

• 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, a public ceremony includes a performance by The Salvation Army Brass Band, remarks from Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and President Ford Field Service Council President Wayman Britt, a flag presentation to the parents of Army Spc. 4th Class Brian K. Derks, who was killed in action Aug. 13, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq, and a flag-raising to full staff

• 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, the scouts end their salute at sunset

America Remembers

Twin Towers of light will rise over Manhattan as America marks 14th anniversary of 9/11

A name-reading ceremony will be held at Memorial Plaza in Manhattan Thursday morning, punctuated by six moments of silence. This year, the Memorial Plaza will be open to the public on September 11 from 6am until midnight. Tribute in Light will illuminate the skies over the Financial District from sunset to early Friday morning. A ceremony of remembrance will take place at Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Relatives of those who perished in Pentagon will take part in private memorial attended by President Obama.

Two blue columns of light representing the devastated World Trade Center illuminated the skies over Lower Manhattan Wednesday night – a vivid tribute to the nearly 3,000 slain innocents - as the United Stated prepared to mark the 13th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Like every year, relatives of victims will come together at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza for a somber name-reading ceremony honoring every one of the people who perished in the attacks on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and inside the plane that crashed in rural Pennsylvania.

During the ceremony, six moments of silence will be observed marking the strikes on the towers, and the Pentagon, the collapse of the skyscrapers and the time Flight 93 went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

9/11 Victim Identified 12 Years Later

A man killed in the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York has become the 1,638th victim to be identified. The 49-year-old's name was not released at the request of his family. His identification was made possible through the re-testing of remains.

To this day, just 59% of the victims have been identified, mostly through DNA. No trace has been found of the remaining 41 percent, or 1,115 people, according to the medical examiner's office.

Over the years, authorities have recovered 21,906 human remains of which 63 percent have been identified.

Honor the victims and heroes of 9/11!

Moments of silence will mark the 8:46 a.m. impact of American Airlines Flight 11's crash into the north tower and the 9:03 a.m. crash of United Airlines Flight 175 into the World Trade Center's south tower.

The 9/11 attack killed 2,753 people in New York, including 403 police and firefighters.

At the Pentagon, where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed at 9:37 a.m. on September 11, President Obama will speak at a private observance for family members of the 184 people who died there.

In southwestern Pennsylvania, it is only expected to take 18 minutes to lay a wreath and read the names of 40 people, beginning at 9:45 a.m. and ending at 10:03 a.m. That is the time United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field near Shanksville.

A bomb sniffing dog named Sirius also died at the WTC.

In 2007, the New York City medical examiner's office began to add people to the official death toll who died of illnesses caused by exposure to dust from the site. The first such victim was a woman who had died in February 2002 from a lung condition. In 2009, a man who died in 2008 was added, and in 2011 a man who died in 2010.

Many more people have died since as a result of exposure to 9/11 dust at Ground Zero.

September 11 memorial events in New York City

Find out where to pay your respects with our guide to September 11 memorial events in NYC, and a guide to 9/11 memorials. By Time Out contributors.

How It Was: Voices of 9/11

Recordings of 9-1-1 calls show how New York City's emergency operators and dispatchers did their jobs on 9/11.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/how-it-was-voices-of-911

In Memory of Daniel Mark Lewin. The first victim of 9/11.

Daniel Mark Lewin was 31 years old and from Denver, Colorado. Daniel was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11.

On September 11, 2001, Daniel was traveling on American Airlines Flight 11, heading from Boston to Los Angeles. He was seated in business class in seat 9B, close to 3 hijackers Mohamed Atta, Abdulaziz al-Omari and al Suqami. It was first reported that he had been shot by al Suqami, although this assertion was later changed to a stabbing. According to the 9/11 Commission, he was stabbed by one of the hijackers, probably Satam al Suqami, who was seated directly behind him. This may have occurred when Daniel tried to confront one of the hijackers in front of him, not realising that al Suqami was sitting just behind him.

Daniel was identified as the first victim of the September 11 attacks.

In Memory of Richard Pearlman

Richard Allen Pearlman, a volunteer with the Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps, was running an errand at 1 Police Plaza in Lower Manhattan when he heard an all-hands call to the World Trade Center, where a plane had struck one of the towers. He teamed up with police nearby, who took him in a cruiser to Ground Zero, where he was seen helping medical personnel and even carrying people out of the burning building.



On Monday September 17, 2001, NewsWeek published a photo that showed Richard wheeling a bloody victim in a stairchair.

The Newsweek magazine photo showed the 18-year-old from Howard Beach wheeling a bloody victim away from the South Tower — one of the last photos of him before his death. The South Tower was hit minutes after a jet flew into the North Tower. He then ran back into the South Tower to help before it collapsed on top of him.

"I'm going to be a famous person one day, Mom. I'm going to help save the world. You'll see." said Richard to his mother, Dori Pearlman.

Flight crew and passengers of Flight 93

In Memory of Elaine Cillo

Elaine Cillo was 40 years old and from Brooklyn, New York. Elaine worked for Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. on the 97th floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

On September 11, 2001, at 8:46am, American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the northern facade of the North Tower ripping a path across floors 94 to 98, directly into the office of Marsh & McLennan Companies.

Life on Ground Zero - The Survivor Tree

The Survivor Tree is a callery pear tree. It was recovered from the rubble at the World Trade Center site in October 2001, long after recovery workers expected to find anything alive at the site. At the time of its recovery it was 8 feet tall, badly burned, and it had only one living branch. Prior to the attacks, the tree had lived at the World Trade Center site for several decades. It was originally planted in the 1970s in the area near buildings four and five, close to Church Street.

The tree has been looked after by several different people over the years.

In December 2010, the Survivor Tree, now grown to a height of 30 feet, was returned to the World Trade Center site.

The tree is a symbol of hope and rebirth.

In Memory of Arlene Eva Fried

Arlene Eva Fried was 49 years old and from Roslyn, New York. Arlene worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

On September 11, 2001, Arlene was trying to help a young lawyer who wanted to know where he should apply for a job. She returned the lawyer's telephone message at 8:44 a.m. He was not there, so she left a message. Four minutes later, the first plane struck. Her remains were never recovered.

"It was always such a joy to work with you, Arlene! Your smile that always greeted me as I peeked into your office was refreshing. I was always bringing a really difficult problem to you. That smile made things much easier for me. I miss you and am so sad that you are no longer with us". (Charles K. Gonzales, co-worker).

In Memory of Carol Keyes Demitz

Carol Keyes Demitz was 49 years old and from New York, New York. (Born: Portsmouth, Virginia).

Carol was senior vice president, chief corporate counsel and secretary of Fiduciary Trust International Company in the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

When Carol got home from Fiduciary Trust, she did not reach for a martini. She went directly to play with Annie, her 4 year-old. "I could tell what room the girls were in by the squealing and laughter," said Fred Brewer, her husband. "Carol would be playing hide-and-seek. Carol was thin and could squeeze herself into the most amazing little cubbyholes. You could hear Annie squealing when she found her."

In Memory of Margaret Ruth Echtermann

Margaret Ruth Echtermann was 33 years old and from Barneveld, New York. (Born: Flemington, New Jersey). Margaret worked as a leasing representative for Regus on the 93rd floor in the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

Margaret liked to spend summer weekends in a rented house in the Hamptons where according to her sister Heidi, she had fallen in love. Also, she was looking forward to moving to Boston where her company was about to transfer her.

On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Margaret spoke to her sister after the first plane hit the North Tower and told her she was fine, then called her parents in Barneveld, a small town north of Utica, and told them the same. Then she called a friend, who recognized Margaret's phone number on her caller ID, but heard nothing. That was the moment of impact, her sister thinks.

In Memory of James Patrick Ladley

James Patrick Ladley was 41 years old and from Colts Neck, New Jersey. (Born: Staten Island, New York). James worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

On September 11, 2001, James was talking to his wife on the phone from his office on the 104th floor when terrorists flew a hijacked airplane into the building.

Shortly after that tragic day, James's wife had to try to explain to their two young children, Elizabeth and James, why their father had not come home. She told Elizabeth, who saw the big building burning, and relates big buildings with her father's work, that "the building became too dangerous and that God is a good person and he opened up heaven and welcomed the people in the building to a safe place." James says that "Daddy is working in heaven." They look at pictures and videos when they miss their dad, but Mrs. Ladley, who wants them to remember their loving and fun-loving father, also tries to assure them that "we big people will take care of everything."

In Memory of Catherine Patricia Salter

Catherine Patricia Salter was 49 years old and from New York, NY. Catherine worked as an assistant vice president in the property claims department at Aon Corp on the 102 floor in the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

On September 11, 2001, Cathy was near her office in the South Tower, when the first plane hit the other tower. Being a VP and in charge of the office, she had evacuated the staff and then called Chicago to tell them that everyone was OK. Next she called her former boss in Cincinnati to tell him all was OK, and he was shocked that she was not out of the building. Catherine explained that the public address system urged people to remain in their offices, but she had evacuated the staff and was just ready to leave herself. It was then that the phone went dead and Catherine's boss saw the new plume of fire from Catherine's tower.

"I can almost imagine seeing her walk the streets and enjoy being alive there. My entire family life has been changed by that day. I may be past the bitterness of strangers taking her life but I will never be over knowing that they must be stopped. We must never forget 9-11-01 if for no other reason than to make sure that it never happens again.

I miss Cathy so much, I look at her picture and I talk to her and I believe that she knows how I feel.

May the circle be unbroken." Love MOM (Eleanor Salter)