9/11 – 7 Years

Today, 9/11/08 marks 7 years to the terror attacks on our country, the attacks that claimed 2,974 lives.

The official city commemoration schedule, along with resource links can be found in the Extended Article.

Mayor Bloomberg, NY Governor David Paterson, NJ Governor Jon Corzine, Homeland Secretary Michael Chertoff and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani will make introductions or deliver readings at Zuccotti Park. And the victims’ names will be read by a family member plus a student representing the victim’s native country. This will probably be the last year victims’ families can descend into the “pit,” given the Ground Zero construction plans ahead.

* 7:00am: Families start to arrive at Zuccotti Park, where the ceremony will take place.
* 8:40am Program begins Bagpipers and drummers lead WTC Flag to the stage Young People’s Chorus of New York performs Star Spangled Banner Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg introduces moment of silence

* 8:46am Moment of silence (observance of time first plane struck North Tower)
(Houses of worship will toll their bells throughout the City)
Family Reading #1
Mayor Bloomberg introduces the reading of the names
Family members and students representing the countries that lost individuals will begin reading the names in pairs (there will be 105 pairs–210 readers–who will continue until all names are read and music will provide a backdrop throughout the program)
Families will proceed to the World Trade Center Site where they may descend the ramp to the lowest level of the site at 8:47 AM
* 9:03am Moment of silence (observance of time second plane struck South Tower)
New York Governor David Paterson delivers reading
Family Reading #2
New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine delivers reading
Reading of names continues/music resumes

* 9:59am Moment of silence (observance of time of fall of the South Tower) Family Reading #3 Former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani delivers reading Reading of names continues/music resumes
* 10:29am Moment of silence (observance of time of fall of the North Tower) Former New York Governor George E. Pataki delivers reading Musical interlude Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff delivers reading Reading of names continues/music resumes Reading of names concludes Young People’s Chorus of New York performs “I will remember you” Taps performed by three trumpeters (NYPD, FDNY and PAPD)
* 12:30pm Program concludes

And Tribute in Light, located at West and Morris Streets, (but visible through lower Manhattan and Brooklyn) will go on a sunset on September 11 and will “fade away” at dawn on September 12. Per the city, “The lights are best seen when it is completely dark; sunset is expected to occur at 7:11 PM that night and sunrise is expected to occur at 6:34 AM on the morning of September 12th.”

Resource Links:

September 11, 2001 attacks – Wikipedia
Collection of photographs of those killed (except of 92 victims) during the terrorists attacks on September 11, 2001
Life Vs. Terror: a 9/11 Anthology – Yanky Tauber, Chabad.org