9/11 Memorial Tribute: 13 Years After The September 11 Attacks

Photo: Amy Dreher

On the eve of the thirteen year anniversary since the attacks on the World Trade Center, the 9/11 Memorial plaza was open to the public for a special viewing of Tribute in Light. For the first time in the institution’s history, the memorial remained open until midnight on to the anniversary It illuminated the New York City sky just south of the Memorial site. Today, we remember the thousands of people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 when terrorist attacks launched by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda crashed two planes into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.

The 9/11 Memorial will hold a commemoration ceremony throughout the morning of Sept. 11th on the memorial plaza. Some 9/11 family members have been assigned a portion of victims’ names to read aloud. Moments of silence will take place at the following times:

• • 8:46 a.m.: Citywide moment of silence, in observance of the first plane striking the North Tower; families of victims of 2001 and 1993 attacks will begin reading the names
• • 9:03 a.m.: Moment of silence in observance of the second plane striking the South Tower
• • 9:37 a.m.: Moment of silence in observance of Flight 77 striking the Pentagon
• • 9:59 a.m.: Moment of silence in observance of the South Tower falling
• • 10:03 a.m.: Moment of silence in observance of Flight 93 crashing near Shanksville, Pa.
• • 10:28 a.m.: Moment of silence in observance of the North Tower falling

The ceremony will be broadcast live on the memorial website website starting at 8:39 a.m. 

The museum will remain open to victims’ families from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and to first responders from 12:30 to 9 p.m.

Reaching four miles high, the Tribute in Light first began in March 2002, six months after the attacks. It has since become a 9/11 anniversary tradition. Click here for more information.