New York City marks 11 years since 9/11 attacks
ABC Eyewitness News
September 11, 2012
Tuesday marks 11 years since the September 11th terror attacks changed America.
This year, the ceremony has been scaled back in New York City, and just the family members will read names. There will be no speeches from politicians this year.
At 8:46 a.m., there will be a moment of silence to mark the exact time the first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, hit the north tower. There will be a second moment of silence at 9:03 a.m. To mark the time United Airlines Flight 175 struck the south tower.
There will be a pause at 9:37 a.m. to remember the victims of the Pentagon attack, and the fourth moment of silence at 9:59 a.m. to mark the precise time the south tower collapsed.
A 10:03 a.m. pause honors the victims of the crash of the hijacked plane in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and a final moment of silence at 10:28 a.m., when the north tower fell.
Observances will also be held at the Pentagon and Shanksville, the other two sites of the September 11th attacks.
The emotion of the day is always prevalent, particularly in the hearts of the victims' family members.
Upon the dedication of the Ladder Company 10 firefighters memorial back in 2006, President George W. Bush said, "The time for mourning may pass, but the time for remembering never does."
And that's exactly what brings the relatives back to celebrate the lives of the loved ones that were killed.
"I come here on the 10th so that I miss all of the rah and the crowds," Joan Vishoff said. "because it's difficult to find some peach and some quiet time to celebrate my son."
And while politics has played a role in how the nation remembers that terrible day, even lawmakers agree the day should simply be one of reflection.
"I think it is important to keep politics out," Rep. Peter King said. "How the mayor does and how the governor is doing, I know there's a dispute going on. To me, the important thing is the families have a place to go. And we can put all that aside and just remember how terrible that day was and how heroic it was at the same time."
Spokesmen for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the governors were fine with the memorial organizers' decision.
"I think that everybody wants to remember 9/11," Vishoff said. "But we need to have our privacy too, and it's so very hard for us. It really is."
The Tribute in Light will return Tuesday night, shining from sunset to dawn.