NEW YORK—Families of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, gathered at the memorial located at the former site of the World Trade Center on Sunday. The ceremony took place at the newly opened national memorial for the first time since the terrorist attacks that shocked the world and shook the nation 10 years ago.
A tarnished flag from the World Trade Center site was carried on stage and unfolded at the ceremony’s start. The Brooklyn Youth Chorus, dressed in black and blue, performed the national anthem. The ceremony paused six times to mark the impacts of the airplanes and the subsequent collapse of the North and South Towers.
“Ten years have passed since the perfect blue sky turned into black of night,” New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said as the ceremony commenced. “Since then, we have lived in sunlight and in shadow. And although we can never unsee what happened here, we can also see that children who lost their parents have grown into young adults, grandchildren have been born, and good works and public service have taken root to honor those we loved and lost.”
At 8:46 a.m., a moment of silence marked the crash of American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower. There were no official speeches given. President Barrack Obama read Psalm 46 from the Bible following the silence.
“Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way, and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,” Obama read.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced the reading of the names of those who lost their lives.
“They were our neighbors, our friends, our husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, children and parents. They were the ones who rushed in to help,” Bloomberg said.
A total of 167 pairs of people read the names of those who lost their lives. Each pair finished the list by reading the names of their loved ones along with a short message. Many voices were shaken and emotional, some cried as they read the names of those who they lost.
At 9:03 a.m., the ceremony paused for another moment of silence, marking the moment American Airlines Flight 175 struck the 78th Floor of the South Tower. Former President George Bush read Abraham Lincoln’s letter to a mother who lost five sons in the Civil War.
Peter Negron, whose father worked on the 88th floor, followed.
“I wish my Dad had been there to teach me how to drive, to ask a girl out on a date, and see me graduate from high school,” Negron said. “I miss you so much.”
The Honor Guard opened the Memorial Plaza to families shortly after. People found the names of their lost loved ones, and paused as the nation’s largest waterfalls hummed. The acre-sized reflecting pools are cut into the footprints of the Twin Towers. Names of the 2,983 people who lost their lives on 9/11 are carved at waist height on the panels lining the pools. Some copied the carvings onto pieces of paper with pencils. Some stood silently looking into the vast pools, running their hands over the inscribed letters.
A third moment of silence at 9:37 a.m. marked the crash of American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon. James and Patricia Smith, husband and daughter of 9/11 victim Moira Smith, spoke after the pause.
“I’m proud to be your daughter,” said Patricia Smith. “You will always be my hero and I’m proud of New York City.”
The ceremony paused again in observance of the fall of the South Tower at 9:59 a.m. Solo flautist Emi Ferguson was visibly moved as she performed “Amazing Grace.” Family members and strangers alike hugged tearfully on the memorial plaza.
The reading of the names paused again to remember the lives lost on United Airlines Flight 93. Former New York Gov. George E. Pataki read a poem titled “The Names” written by former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins.
“Names wheeled into the dim warehouse of memory. So many names, there is barely room on the walls of the heart,” Pataki read.
The ceremony paused for a final moment of silence, at 10:28 a.m. to mark the fall of the North Tower. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani read a passage from the Bible.
“God bless every soul that we lost,” Gulliani said.
Debra Epps, whose husband was 9/11 victim Christopher Epps, said she was grateful for all the support she received from people throughout the years.
“It has been 10 years and it feels like it just happened yesterday,” said Epps.
Four trumpeters from the NYPD, FDNY, the Port Authority Police Department, and U.S. Military performed taps. The reading of names continued until the conclusion of the ceremony at 1 p.m.
