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Governor Announces Ceremonies Commemorating Second Anniversary Of September 11th Attack
Statewide Moment of Silence, Tolling of Bells, Wreath of Remembrance, Tribute In Light, highlight this year’s ceremonies
Governor Pataki announced on Monday, August 11th, plans to commemorate the second anniversary of the September 11th attack in New York City and Albany, calling on local elected officials to plan their own memorial events in conjunction with observances taking place in these cities.
In a joint release, Governor Pataki and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also outlined the details of an observance that, in keeping with last year’s remembrance, will take place at the World Trade Center site on the morning of Thursday, September 11th. They also announced that Tribute in Light will return for a single night on the evening of the anniversary.
"We will never forget the individual lives that were lost, the tremendous personal sacrifices and the countless acts of heroism that will forever mark September 11, 2001 as a day the world changed forever," Governor Pataki said. "Those heroes will be forever in the hearts and minds of people throughout New York State and around the world. New Yorkers have shown an incredible strength and the ability to unite in the face of tragedy. And on the second anniversary of this fateful day, we will look to our children, through whose eyes we can see the true promise of our State and our nation. And through whose eyes we will continue to see hope and have optimism for a lifetime of brighter days."
Mayor Bloomberg said, "On September 11th, the hearts and minds of the City and the country will again turn toward the World Trade Center site. This will be the second time that we as friends, as family and as one community, will gather to remember a day of great sorrow and great strength. Forever mindful of the grief still felt by the families, and the City’s desire to honor them and those who rose up as heroes, we plan to mark this anniversary as a day of remembrance and pride, but equally as a day on which we turn our faces toward the future. In keeping with that, we will ask the children of the City to take the lead in the ceremony. It is in them that the spirit of the City lives."
The ceremony at the World Trade Center Site will begin at 8:30 am. Children will play a large part in this year’s ceremony by reading the names of the victims and providing a musical backdrop throughout the program. The priority will be given to the families of those who died on September 11 N’ but public access will be permitted as space allows. Other attendees will include Governor Pataki, New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, Mayor Bloomberg, and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
The reading of the names will pause at four moments during the ceremony - two to mark the times that each plane hit the towers and two to mark each time when the towers fell. The first moment of silence at 8:46 am. will be a nationwide moment of silence and houses of worship throughout the country are encouraged to toll their bells at that time. While the names are read, family members will have an opportunity to descend a ramp to the lowest level of the World Trade Center site where they may lay flowers.
The hallmarks of the State’s remembrance will include a statewide moment of silence and tolling of bells at 8:46 am., observing the time the first plane struck the North Tower, and a remembrance ceremony hosted by New York State and the City of Albany, on the East Steps of the State Capital in Albany.
In New York City, on September 11th at sundown, Tribute in Light will be brought back for one night, as a tribute to the memory of those lost and a symbol of American freedom and of the spirit of the great City of New York. Details about location and times will be released in the next few weeks.
The ceremony at the World Trade Center site to commemorate the second anniversary of the September 11th attack will officially begin at 8:30 am.
An all agency honor guard made up of individuals representing City, State, Federal and non-profit agencies including NYC Fire Department (FDNY), NYC Police Department (NYPD), Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), and representatives of the victim’s families will participate in the ceremony. Members of the honor guard will stand for about 30 minutes and then rotate.
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