Tribute in Light to return for 9-11 anniversary

Spouses, partners, and significant others of 9/11 victims will lead the solemn commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the attacks, which will be held at the World Trade Center site on September 11, 2006.

As in years past, each of the 2,749 victims' names will be read aloud as music plays in the background, and the ceremony will pause in four places to mark the times that each plane hit the towers and the times when each tower fell.  

"The anniversary is a time for prayer and requiem, and it is also an occasion to recommit ourselves to the unwavering spirit that carried us through the worst day in our city's history and animated our remarkable recovery in the five years since," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a statement. "By continuing to show that spirit -- by continuing to embrace our freedoms, live with courage, and make this an even better city for all our children -- we honor the memory of all those we lost every day of the year," he said.

An introduction will proceed the first moment of silence, at 8:46 a.m., after which the reading of names will begin. As the names are read, family members are invited to descend on a ramp into the site to lay flowers. The ceremony is expected to conclude around noon, but the site will remain open to family members who wish to pay their respects until 3 p.m. At nightfall, the "Tribute in Light" twin beans will return for one night to the Lower Manhattan skyline, rising from West and Morris Streets.

"On the fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001, we will again gather in sorrow and in remembrance to ensure we never forget the magnitude of what happened that fateful day and each and every one of the heroes we lost," said Governor George Pataki in a statement. "We will remember, we will rebuild, and we will move forward with the full confidence of a free people."

WTC site will be home to 9/11 memorial event

Commemoration event program details are listed below. More specific details will be released in early September.

8:46 a.m.   Moment of silence (observance of time first plane struck North Tower)

(Houses of worship will toll their bells throughout the city)                 

Introduction of the reading of the names
Spouses, partners, and significant others begin reading of names in pairs

• The names will be read by the spouses, partners, and significant others of those lost
• Each reader will read approximately 14 names
• There will be approximately 100 pairs (200 readers) who will continue until all names are read
• Families may begin to descend ramp to the lowest level of the site at 8:47 a.m.

9:03 a.m.    Moment of silence (observance of time second plane struck South Tower)

Reading of names continues/music resumes

9:59 a.m.    Moment of silence (observance of time of fall of the South Tower)

Reading of names continues/music resumes

10:29 a.m.   Moment of silence (observance of time of fall of the North Tower)

Reading of names continues/music resumes
Reading of names concludes
Taps performed by two trumpeters (NYPD and FDNY)
Final music performance
Program ends

For a map of parking locations surrounding the WTC site, please click here.

For a map showing reader check-in and family entrance locations, please click here.