By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- The 9/11 Memorial & Museum will add a seventh, permanent moment of silence to its annual Sept. 11 ceremony, honoring those who died from illnesses linked to 9/11 exposure.
- The new moment will recognize first responders, recovery workers and Lower Manhattan residents who later died from related illnesses; it will be observed after the reading of victims’ names.
- The change takes effect during this year’s 25th anniversary commemoration and will become a permanent part of the annual ceremony going forward.
- The ceremony’s existing six moments of silence mark the times each hijacked plane struck its target and when the World Trade Center towers fell.
- Memorial & Museum Chairman Michael R. Bloomberg and former FDNY Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kerry Kelly said the addition reflects the continued toll of 9/11-related illness among responders and survivors.
NEW YORK — The 9/11 Memorial & Museum will add a seventh moment of silence to its annual Sept. 11 commemoration this year, honoring first responders, recovery workers and survivors who died from illnesses linked to exposure during and after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
For the past 24 years, the ceremony has included six moments of silence marking when hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and when each tower fell. The new, seventh moment will be observed after the reading of victims’ names and will become a permanent part of the annual ceremony.
“The 9/11 attacks caused devastation that extended far beyond that single day,” 9/11 Memorial & Museum Chairman Michael R. Bloomberg said. “In the aftermath, the heroism and spirit of our city and nation inspired the world — but over the years, tens of thousands of first responders, construction workers, volunteers, and survivors have become ill and tragically, many have died. As we mark the 25th anniversary, adding this moment of silence ensures that we never forget every life lost on that day and in the years since.”
Dr. Kerry Kelly, former FDNY chief medical officer and a 9/11 Memorial & Museum trustee, said the addition reflects the continuing scale of the crisis. “These heroes spent the days and months after 9/11 doing critical search, rescue, and recovery work that exposed them to a toxic chemical mix,” Kelly said. “We’ve lost far too many to cancer, respiratory issues, and other 9/11-related illnesses. Today, thousands continue to struggle with 9/11 related illnesses and the number of responders and survivors developing severe 9/11 related illnesses continues to grow.”