Hundreds gather at World Trade Center for 12th anniversary of Sept. 11 terror attacks
The somber ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial plaza began with bagpipes and a chorus singing the Star-Spangled Banner before a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time that the first hijacked plane struck the North Tower 12 years ago.
Comments (15)By Rich Schapiro AND Joe Kemp / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Wednesday, September 11, 2013, 9:27 AM
Updated: Wednesday, September 11, 2013, 11:05 AM
ALEJANDRA VILLA / EPA
Gail Silke and her niece, Erica Tierney, traced the name of Gail's brother and fallen police officer Steven Bristoll on Wednesday during the 9/11 Memorial ceremonies that took place in Manhattan.
Hundreds gathered near the World Trade Center on Wednesday for the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
The somber ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial plaza began with a chorus singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" followed by a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time that the first hijacked plane struck the North Tower.
The tearful crowd was filled with relatives of the nearly 3,000 people who perished when the Twin Towers collapsed. The victims’ names, along with the victims killed at the Pentagon and near Shanksville, Pa., were being read alphabetically by their family members.
The names of victims of the 1993 World Trade Center truck bombing were set to be read.
PHOTOS: 9/11 MEMORIAL SERVICES MARK 12TH ANNIVERSARY
Many of the mourners were holding signs and photographs of their lost loved ones.
“It’s harder to come back for this every year,” said Kathy Swift, 54, whose 29-year-old brother, Thomas Swift, was killed when the South Tower collapsed.
The Jersey City woman touched the trunk of a 25-foot tree planted in his memory and stared at it for a few seconds.
“It’s not getting any easier,” she said. “It’s getting harder.
RELATED: 9/11 ANNIVERSARY: NEW WTC FINALLY TAKING SHAPE
“He was my baby brother. ... Everybody from his office got out except him.”
Denise Matuza, 46 — whose husband, Walter Matuza, died during the attacks — rode a bus with more than 50 other victims’ relatives from Staten Island to stand in the footprints of where the towers once stood.
“We feel comfort in coming down here,” she said. “Even though it’s been 12 years and people say, ‘Aren’t you crazy, you’re still coming down here?’ Coming down here makes us feel good. We’re all united. We’re all one.”
She said coming to the site every year “takes away the pain more.”
RELATED: OBAMA PAYS RESPECTS TO THOSE KILLED DURING 9/11 ATTACKS AT WHITE HOUSE GATHERING
“Nobody understands the pain we go through,” she said.
The reading of the names was paused at 9:03 a.m., for a moment of silence to observe the time the second plane struck the South Tower. The ceremony continued until another moment of silence at 9:37 a.m., the time that Flight 77 struck the Pentagon.
Other moments of silence included one at 9:59 a.m., the moment the South Tower collapsed; 10:03 a.m., the time Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania; and at 10:28 a.m., the time the North Tower fell.
Daphne Davis, 49, visited the site for the first time to honor her husband Clinton Davis, 38 - one of 37 Port Authority officers killed during the attacks.
WE WITNESSED 9/11 THROUGH THEIR LENSES
"I'm happy to be here," said the widow, who rode to the city by train from her Austin, Texas, home. "I feel him around me."
Her son, Clinton Davis Jr., is reading his late father's name.
"He was my buddy," Daphne Davis said. "I miss him - the singing, our personal talks, everything. He raised me. I got married at 17."
Several city officials — including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly and FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano — attended the ceremony, which is expected to last until 12:30 p.m.
RELATED: GOV. CUOMO, BILLY JOEL LEAD 9/11 MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Most of the pols, which included Bill de Blasio - the likely winner of the Democratic race for Mayor - had left the ceremony by about 10:30 a.m.
An 11-year-old girl — who was born after her bond trader father, Noell Maerz, was killed during the attacks — will be one of the relatives reading the names.
“That’s what makes this year special,” said Noell’s father, Ralph Maerz, 68. “She’s excited about it.”
The father, who lives in Florida, said he comes to the anniversary ceremony every year.
RELATED: VIDEO: HAUNTING NEWS HEADLINES ON THE EVENING BEFORE SEPT. 11, 2001
“I have to come,” he said. “They never found him, so this is his gravesite.”
The father of one victim noted less people flock to the anniversary ceremony every year.
"It's hard to see it get smaller and smaller crowd-wise," said Bruce Kane, 78, wearing around his neck a picture of his son, Howard Kane, who died in the North Tower. "I gues people go on with their lives, move away."
Kane, of Englewood, N.J., recalled staring at the smoldering pile of debris after the terror attacks and wondering if his 40-year-old son - who worked in the North Tower's famed Windows on the World - would ever be found.
RELATED: 12 YEARS IS A LONG TIME
Workers found Howard Kane's remains on Oct. 24, 2001.
"It was my wife's birthday, and the medical examiner called," said the father, who still carries his son's yellowing business card. "That was some birthday present."
One 15-year-old girl, after reading the name of her uncle, Salvatore Papasso, pleaded with Obama to avoid going to war with Syria.
"I was only 3 when you were taken from us, and we miss you very much," the teen said about her uncle. "And President Obama, please do not bring us to another war."
With Mara Gay
The somber ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial plaza began with a chorus singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" followed by a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time that the first hijacked plane struck the North Tower.
The tearful crowd was filled with relatives of the nearly 3,000 people who perished when the Twin Towers collapsed. The victims’ names, along with the victims killed at the Pentagon and near Shanksville, Pa., were being read alphabetically by their family members.
GARY HERSHORN/REUTERS
A woman looks out at New York's Lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center from inside the 9/11 Empty Sky memorial at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Across the Hudson River, mourners gathered to remember and commemorate victims of the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
PHOTOS: 9/11 MEMORIAL SERVICES MARK 12TH ANNIVERSARY
Many of the mourners were holding signs and photographs of their lost loved ones.
Pix11
Many mourners hold signs and pictures of relatives killed during the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
The Jersey City woman touched the trunk of a 25-foot tree planted in his memory and stared at it for a few seconds.
“It’s not getting any easier,” she said. “It’s getting harder.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden bow their heads for a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House.
“He was my baby brother. ... Everybody from his office got out except him.”
Denise Matuza, 46 — whose husband, Walter Matuza, died during the attacks — rode a bus with more than 50 other victims’ relatives from Staten Island to stand in the footprints of where the towers once stood.
David Handschuh/New York Daily News
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, left, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, right, and FDNY Commissioner Sal Cassano, center, attend the readings of the names and observe the moments of silence to commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
She said coming to the site every year “takes away the pain more.”
David Handschuh/New York Daily News
After a long election night, New York City Democratic Mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio attends the 9/11 memorial Wednesday morning at the World Trade Center.
The reading of the names was paused at 9:03 a.m., for a moment of silence to observe the time the second plane struck the South Tower. The ceremony continued until another moment of silence at 9:37 a.m., the time that Flight 77 struck the Pentagon.
Other moments of silence included one at 9:59 a.m., the moment the South Tower collapsed; 10:03 a.m., the time Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania; and at 10:28 a.m., the time the North Tower fell.
Stan Honda/AP
NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, right, hugs a friend at the 9/11 memorial plaza on the 12th anniversary of the attacks.
WE WITNESSED 9/11 THROUGH THEIR LENSES
"I'm happy to be here," said the widow, who rode to the city by train from her Austin, Texas, home. "I feel him around me."
ALEJANDRA VILLA / EPA
Friends and family members carrying photos, flowers and heavy hearts gather at the 9/11 memorial plaza.
"He was my buddy," Daphne Davis said. "I miss him - the singing, our personal talks, everything. He raised me. I got married at 17."
Several city officials — including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly and FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano — attended the ceremony, which is expected to last until 12:30 p.m.
Pix11
The somber ceremony began with a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time the first hijacked plane struck the North Tower.
Most of the pols, which included Bill de Blasio - the likely winner of the Democratic race for Mayor - had left the ceremony by about 10:30 a.m.
An 11-year-old girl — who was born after her bond trader father, Noell Maerz, was killed during the attacks — will be one of the relatives reading the names.
David Handschuh/New York Daily News
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, left, and New York Gov. Cuomo honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the memorial plaza in New York.
The father, who lives in Florida, said he comes to the anniversary ceremony every year.
RELATED: VIDEO: HAUNTING NEWS HEADLINES ON THE EVENING BEFORE SEPT. 11, 2001
Pix11
Relatives of victims killed on 9/11 gather near the World Trade Center on the 12th anniversary of the attacks.
The father of one victim noted less people flock to the anniversary ceremony every year.
"It's hard to see it get smaller and smaller crowd-wise," said Bruce Kane, 78, wearing around his neck a picture of his son, Howard Kane, who died in the North Tower. "I gues people go on with their lives, move away."
Marcus Santos/New York Daily News
Gov. Cuomo and Billy Joel lead a 9/11 tribute motrocycle ride to Ground Zero.
RELATED: 12 YEARS IS A LONG TIME
Workers found Howard Kane's remains on Oct. 24, 2001.
"It was my wife's birthday, and the medical examiner called," said the father, who still carries his son's yellowing business card. "That was some birthday present."
One 15-year-old girl, after reading the name of her uncle, Salvatore Papasso, pleaded with Obama to avoid going to war with Syria.
"I was only 3 when you were taken from us, and we miss you very much," the teen said about her uncle. "And President Obama, please do not bring us to another war."
With Mara Gay
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hundreds-gather-world-trade-center-12th-anniversary-sept-11-terror-attacks-article-1.1451975#ixzz2ebEexJpN
No comments:
Post a Comment