August 12, 2003
City Announces September 11 Remembrance Plans
The City is planning for children related to September 11 victims to recite names of those lost and for the "Tribute in Light" to return in the evening, for one night. There will also be four moments of silence (when planes hit the buildings, when the buildings collapsed). The Times notes that the families, rather than the politicians, are the focus in a more modest ceremony than last year, which just one event at the WTC site. The Daily News adds that about 200 children will read 14 names each.
The Mayor's press release with schedule of the day's events.
The opening credit sequence of The 25th Hour features the "Tribute in Light."
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All I hope -- and I mean this with all due respect -- is that there's no "special moment" or differentiation for the rescue workers, firefighters, etc, as opposed to those who perished in the buildings or the planes.
There's no hierarchy in death, and I would hope that the families of the rescue workers would start to understand this. Those in the buildings that day were doing their jobs as much as the workers were . . . trying to support their families and loved ones.
P.S. --
Something else I hope -- and I mean this one with the, um, let us say "proper" amount of respect toward our "elected leaders" (some were, one in particular wasn't, not quite) -- is that the ceremony doesn't turn into a giant flag-waving and military-glorifying orgy.
A memorial ceremony is no time for a nationalistic military rally.
I'm not sure what you're focusing on, but I believe that the victims include various rescue workers and firefighters who may have perished. I think the rescue workers' and firefighters' groups have their own ceremonies. Overall, it seems like the City is trying to streamline the ceremony so it's more simple and reflective.
My friend's brother, a firefighter, and whose aunt's brother, someone who worked at 7 WTC, died at the WTC, and for their families, nationalism and glorifying the military are welcome. Everyone copes very differently, and I would guess there will be a range of options to accomodate those needs.
All I hope for New York City and the country on this day is that we all have a moment or two to reflect on what happened to our nation on that day, two years ago. We do not need an overdone ceremony to recall the horrific events that occurred and affected each and everyone of our lives. We need to be given our own time to reflect and pray for those lost, both the victims and the rescue workers. This is the only way we might find some peace within ourselves during this tragic period of American history.