New York once again came to a standstill this Thursday to remember the nearly 3,000 victims of the attacks on September 11, 2001 and those who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, during a ceremony marked by the weight of time and the enduring pain of the families.
According to a report by EFE, the main event took place at the 9/11 Memorial, where the names of the deceased were read aloud and several minutes of silence were observed. The site, which is now one of the most visited places by tourists in the city, was closed to the general public and surrounded by strong security measures.
The ceremony began at 8:46 AM, the exact time the first plane struck the north tower of the Twin Towers. Meanwhile, fire departments throughout the city held tributes to the fallen members from that day, observing a moment of silence in honor of the first responders who ran toward danger without hesitation.
The president Donald Trump did not go to New York, but participated in a commemorative event at the Pentagon, where one of the hijacked planes crashed 24 years ago. In his speech, he recalled the sacrifice of those who lost their lives on 9/11:
“In their memory, we make a solemn promise: we will always honor our great heroes. We will defend the nation they served, the values they upheld, and the freedom for which they gave their lives. We will build higher, fight harder, and soar further. And together we will move forward as one people, with one heart, one faith, one flag, and a glorious destiny under Almighty God,” Trump stated.
The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, also added his words of respect, highlighting how 9/11 changed the United States and the world forever:
“There was one America before and another after September 11. That day we discovered our vulnerability, but we also witnessed the spirit of unity and courage of a country capable of rising again. Let us remember the images of firefighters and police officers entering buildings on the brink of collapse, risking and losing their lives to save others. That memory should inspire us to remain ever vigilant,” he said.
In New York, where Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, and former mayors such as Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani were present, the One World Trade Center and the Oculus, the station designed by Santiago Calatrava, which projects a beam of natural light every September 11 as a symbol of remembrance, will light up tonight. The now-traditional two columns of blue light will illuminate the Manhattan sky, visible from all over the city.
In addition to the victims of that day, thousands more have died in recent years from diseases linked to the pollution left by the rubble of the towers. That silent wound is also part of the tragedy.
Filed under:
