The city's ceremony will take place in Zuccotti Park

The City of New York is preparing for the eighth annual September 11th commemoration ceremony, held for the second year at Zuccotti Park. The park is adjacent to the World Trade Center (WTC) site on Liberty Street between Broadway and Church Street/Trinity Place. The ceremony will officially begin at 8:40 a.m., with families of those who died on September 11th arriving as early as 7 a.m.

In honor of the new federal designation of September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, family members will be paired with volunteers from throughout the five boroughs to read the names of the 2,752 victims, which will be accompanied by music. A complete list of the names will be posted on www.nyc.gov prior to the ceremony. An honor guard of members of the Fire Department, Police Department, and Port Authority Police Department will participate in the ceremony.

There will be a pause at four moments, the first at 8:46 a.m. (time the first plane struck the north tower), when houses of worship are asked to toll their bells. The final three moments of silence will occur at 9:03 a.m. (time the second plane struck the south tower), 9:59 a.m. (time the south tower fell), and 10:29 a.m. (time the north tower fell). 

While the names are read, family members will be able to enter the WTC site and lay flowers where the National September 11th Memorial and Museum is being built. The ceremony will conclude at approximately 12 noon.

As it has since 2001, the “Tribute in Light” display will return on September 11th at sunset and fade away at dawn on September 12th. The base of the twin light beams is located at West and Morris Streets.

More details about the ceremony and a complete list of readers’ names will be posted on the morning of September 11th at www.nyc.gov/mediaadvisory.

Related Links