19th Anniversary of September 11th Tribute in Light will Shine Again! Do a Good Deed!

rabbit75_ist Getty Image
Photo credit rabbit75_ist Getty Image

In mid August an announcement was made that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the safety of others, the 19th Anniversary of September 11th Tribute in Light would not shine during 2020. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum received a high level of public scrutiny and reminded of the high standards expected to preserve the history of 9/11 and to ensure remembrance of the 2,983 innocent souls killed in the 2001 and 1993 terror attacks. 

 A statement was released reversing the decision and having the September 11th Tribute in Light will shine for 2020. "And, so we reversed our decision. The sheer volume of calls to shine the Tribute in Light on the 19th anniversary was humbling. There were multiple offers of assistance to help us stage the tribute in a safe and appropriate fashion ... We are now able to go forward as a result of this outpouring of concern and good will, with confidence that we are not placing anyone at personal risk. " - President & CEO Alice M. Greenwald

This Friday, September 11, 2020, from dusk until dawn, two beloved beams of light will shine again. This year they will be powered by the Will of the Community.  Tribute in Light is a commemorative public art installation that was first presented six months after 9/11 and then every year thereafter. It has become an iconic symbol that both honors those killed and celebrates the unbreakable spirit of New York and the USA. Businesses are encouraged to be lit up in blue light. 

The reading of names will happen as in past years, but with an abundance of caution and in line of the guidance of social distancing and safety concerns due to COVID-19. Family members will not be reading names of the victims in person on stage this year. Recorded readings of the names made by 9/11 family members will happen instead for the 19th anniversary ceremony. 

During the ceremony, six moments of  silence will be observed acknowledging when each of the World Trade Center towers were struck and fell, and the times corresponding to the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of the United Airlines Flight 93. The ceremony starts at 8:30am EST / 7:30am CST. The first moment of silence will be 8:46am EST / 7:46am CST. 

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum will reopen exclusively for 9/11 family members on the 19th anniversary of 9/11. It will reopen to the public on September 12.

Anniversary in Schools will be happening

9/11 Remembrance Events

9/11 is a National Day of Service and Remembrance. We can do a Good Deed to make the world a better place in tribute of those lost and the heroes of 9/11. We are all capable of doing Good for each other, striving to do so everyday. 

11 Good Deeds for 9/11 (and beyond) 

  1. Feed a First Responder / Healthcare Worker Help feed your local heroes.
  2. Pledge #BeKind21 Lady Gaga inspired to make kindness a habit started September 1st doing 21 days of kind acts and continue. You can start today and keep it going #BeKind
  3. Volunteer on Voting Day Help with staff shortages at the polls creating safe and fair voting. 
  4. Diversify Your Children's Books Text “diversity” to 39015 for a curated list of children's books written by Black authors.
  5. Speak Up About Mental Health I'm Listening
  6. Request a Mail-In Ballot 
  7. Support Suicide Prevention Email your U.S. Representative urging legislation to make the 988 hotline a reality.
  8. Help Scientists Stop COVID-19 Download the app The How We Feel Project will donate a meal to someone in need.
  9. Donate Blood / Donate Plasma to Fight COVID-19 / 
  10. Save Local Restaurants Tell Congress to pass the Restaurants Act which will establish a $120B fund to revitalize independent restaurants impacted by COVID-19.
  11. Never Forget 9/11 Donate to the 9/11 Day Fund 

In the words of Christine Morrison, a 4th Grader who wrote this poem and sent it to President Bush. She received a Thank You Letter from First Lady Barbara Bush, and it was published by Dear Abby. The words still hold true today ... 

The Dust of September

The dust, the smoke, the cloudsfrom the dust of September.

The sadness, the sorrow, the darknessfrom the dust of September

The pretty sites are gone, the love, the deathfrom the dust of September

The families, the lives taken awayfrom the dust of September

Our country is sad, but our country still standsfrom the dust of September

We will never break, we will stand togetherthrough the dust of September

People hurt, hearts broken, but we survivein the dust of September. 

A poem I have shared since the first time I discovered it 19 years ago. Never Forget those we have lost during 9/11, and remembering all the lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic right now. Never Forget All We Can Do Together! Do Good Y'all! - Heather R.