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Memorials and services for the September 11 attacks

From Alfawiki

The earliest tributes to those lost in the September 11 attacks of 2001 first appeared online, as website administrators shared reflections, links to relief organizations, images, and firsthand narratives. Within hours, numerous digital memorials surfaced, although many were short-lived. Across the globe, U.S. embassies and consulates became unofficial sites of remembrance where individuals gathered to honor the victims.

The inaugural public ceremony reading the names of those who perished took place at the World Trade Center location on September 11, 2002.

The Tribute in Light represented the initial prominent physical commemoration at the World Trade Center site. The site's comprehensive redevelopment included the creation of the permanent National September 11 Memorial & Museum. This memorial consists of two expansive reflecting pools positioned within the original footprints of the Twin Towers, featuring cascading waterfalls and the inscribed names of victims along their perimeters. Additional lasting memorials have been established internationally.

In Hoboken, New Jersey, Pier A served as a venue for numerous commemorative events and candlelight vigils, including a service on March 11, 2002, marking six months since the first illumination of the Tribute in Light. By September 2004, Hoboken designated a permanent September 11 memorial location known as Hoboken Island.

The Sphere, an imposing bronze sculpture crafted by German artist Fritz Koenig, stood between the Twin Towers from 1971 until their destruction. Weighing over 20 tons, it was the sole major artwork recovered largely intact from the debris. Since then, The Sphere has evolved into a powerful symbol of remembrance for 9/11 and attracts numerous visitors. It was officially rededicated on August 16, 2017, by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey at Liberty Park, overlooking the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Temporary memorials

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, temporary commemorations were established both in New York and elsewhere.

  • On October 4, Reverend Brian Jordan performed a blessing for the World Trade Center cross, formed by two steel beams welded together by ironworkers at the crash site.
  • On October 13, Mark Bavis, a victim aboard United Airlines Flight 175 and former player for the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays, was honored by retiring his number at the North Charleston Coliseum. His jersey number is displayed separately with his playing tenure (1994–96), date of death, and an American flag.
  • Also on October 13, The September 11 Photo Project was initiated as a nonprofit community photography exhibit in response to the attacks. Over two years and seven cities, it showcased contributions from more than 700 participants, drew upwards of 300,000 visitors, and produced a book that sold over 60,000 copies.
  • On March 11, 2002, The Sphere, damaged but preserved from its original World Trade Center location, was dedicated as a temporary memorial in Battery Park City.

In other countries

In Europe, Nissoria—a small Sicilian town in Italy—was among the earliest to establish a September 11 tribute. Two residents lost their lives at the World Trade Center. The then-mayor Dr. Marco Murgo collaborated with the Chiara family to create “Parco 11 Settembre,” a memorial situated beside a local school and museum. Nearby U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella supports this initiative annually with participation from military personnel alongside local officials and citizens.

  • According to Radio Farda, following the attacks Iranian citizens expressed solidarity at the Swiss Embassy in Tehran (which represents U.S. interests) by lighting candles. In 2011, the United States Department of State publicly acknowledged Iranians for their compassionate gestures during this time. Both Iran’s President and Supreme Leader condemned the attacks. Reports from BBC and Time magazine documented candlelight vigils held by Iranian citizens in remembrance.

Monuments and Installations

  • The Avalon September 11th Memorial Plaza, located in Avalon, New Jersey, displays a World Trade Center beam measuring nine feet, eleven inches in height, tilted toward Manhattan at an angle of 9 degrees, 11 minutes. Established in 2012 at the intersection of 21st Street and Dune Drive, the site also features a commemorative wall accompanied by a plaque.
  • Jersey City's 9/11 Memorial along the Hudson Waterfront incorporates original steel beams from the World Trade Center, a granite stele, and the artwork titled Makeshift Memorial.
  • The Hudson Riverfront 9/11 Memorial in Weehawken, New Jersey, pays tribute to both the emergency boat lift operation following 9/11 and local victims affected by the tragedy.
  • Connecticut is home to multiple memorials, including a glass tower crafted by sculptor Henry Richardson in Danbury and a dedicated monument at Cove Island Park in Stamford.
  • Additional commemorative sites exist at locations such as the Overland Park Fire Department Training Center in Kansas; Rosemead, California; Shanksville, Pennsylvania—honoring Flight 93; and the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington County, Virginia.
  • Across various U.S. cities, memorials incorporating steel remnants from the World Trade Center have been established. These include Boston’s Logan Airport; Myrtle Beach in South Carolina; Ocean City, Maryland; King of Prussia in Pennsylvania; and Plains, Georgia.
  • On an international scale, prominent memorials include Jerusalem’s Twin Towers Memorial—the sole monument outside the United States that lists all nearly 3,000 victims—and several Italian sites such as Padua’s Memoria e Luce and Bologna’s Parco 11 Settembre 2001.

Other notable tributes encompass:

  • Pennsylvania’s Flight 93 National Memorial alongside state-specific dedications like Texas State Cemetery’s symbolic girders recovered from WTC debris.
  • The FDNY memorial wall in New York City featuring a 56-foot bronze bas-relief honoring 343 firefighters who lost their lives.
  • Manhattan’s Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden which commemorates British nationals who perished.
  • New Jersey’s official memorial Empty Sky, situated within Liberty State Park and unveiled in 2011.
  • University-based memorials including those at Columbia Business School (New York City), College of DuPage (Illinois), and University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

Several fire departments and local municipalities have established dedicated memorial spaces utilizing World Trade Center steel beams or related artifacts:

  • Colts Neck, New Jersey commissioned artist Jim Gary to create a memorial garden adorned with brass and stained glass butterflies symbolizing victims.
  • Los Angeles International Airport houses the Recovering Equilibrium sculpture incorporating salvaged steel from the WTC.
  • Bremerton, Washington’s Central Kitsap Memorial integrates materials sourced from all three crash locations: steel girders from the WTC, limestone from the Pentagon, and sand from Shanksville.
  • Delaware’s Air Mobility Command Museum contains a memorial featuring steel from the North Tower along with debris recovered from Flight 93 and the Pentagon.

Smaller communities throughout the United States also feature memorials:

  • Absecon, New Jersey displays a beam originating from the South Tower’s 39th floor.
  • Yuma Fire Station No.1 in Arizona includes an I-beam section accompanied by plaques honoring victims.
  • Edmonds Fire Station expansion in Washington state pays tribute to first responders.
  • Huntington Beach, California features two stainless steel towers incorporating girders from the World Trade Center.

Additional significant installations include:

  • The Plano Firefighters Association’s Ground Zero memorial showcasing a 6,600-pound debris fragment donated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
  • Two intact Port Authority Trans-Hudson rail cars salvaged from the WTC station have been donated to trolley museums for public exhibition.
  • Philadelphia's Schuylkill River Trail contains a steel beam memorial oriented toward Ground Zero with inscribed names of local victims.

Internationally recognized memorials consist of Lisbon's September 11 Memorial—a steel structure unveiled shortly after the attacks—and Christchurch, New Zealand’s A Tribute to Firefighters, which incorporates five World Trade Center steel girders gifted by New York City.

Together, these enduring memorials act as significant landmarks within their communities. They preserve historical artifacts while supporting public engagement through fundraising initiatives and collaborations between public entities and private organizations.

Additional honors

  • The New Britain Museum of American Art commissioned artist Graydon Parrish to produce the allegorical piece The Cycle of Terror and Tragedy honoring Scott O'Brien, a native of New Britain who lost his life in the attacks.
  • The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation, founded by Melodie Homer in tribute to her late husband, United 93 First Officer LeRoy Homer, annually grants up to three scholarships to U.S. residents aged 16 to 23. Supported by private and corporate contributions, the foundation encourages careers in aviation with an emphasis on women and minorities.
  • The US Navy designated three vessels—, , and —named after the crash sites: New York State, Arlington County (VA), and Somerset County (PA). Notably, the bow of New York contains six tons of steel salvaged from Ground Zero.
  • MTA bus number 2185, severely damaged during the World Trade Center collapse, was restored and repainted featuring a distinctive American flag design.
  • In 2011, a high school sports complex in Kennewick, Washington, installed a 6,000-pound steel beam recovered from one of the Twin Towers.
  • NASA’s Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit, launched in 2003, incorporated aluminum fragments from the World Trade Center as protective shields for cables, each engraved with American flags.
  • A replica of the Statue of Liberty at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas displays a plaque commemorating 9/11; meanwhile, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas maintains a permanent collection of related artifacts.
  • Anniversary Park at The George Washington University includes a plaque honoring alumni who perished in the attacks.

Events of 2001

  • September 20: The New York Philharmonic performed Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem at Avery Fisher Hall, directing all proceeds toward disaster relief efforts. The audience refrained from applause as a gesture of respect.
  • September 21: The two-hour live telethon America: A Tribute to Heroes aired across nearly all major networks, featuring top artists and celebrities answering phones for donations.
  • October 7: The AMF National Bowl-a-thon sought to raise $3 million for the Twin Towers Fund; concurrently, the Brooklyn Philharmonic presented a free concert showcasing American composers.
  • October 8 & 15: Charity events titled Haircut for Life were held at Roberto Novo Salon to benefit World Trade Center victims.
  • October 9: A benefit concert marking John Lennon's birthday featured East Village Antifolk musicians raising funds for the WTC Disaster Fund.
  • October 20: Benefit concerts The Concert for New York City and Volunteers for America took place in Atlanta and Dallas respectively, raising funds for families of fallen firefighters.
  • October 21: The event United We Stand: What More Can I Give was held.
  • December 9: Hispanos Unidos Por New York, a Latin music concert at Madison Square Garden, supported victims of both September 11 attacks and the crash of American Airlines Flight 587.

Events from 2002 onward

  • February 3, 2002: During Super Bowl XXXVI halftime show, U2 performed "Where the Streets Have No Name"; banners displaying victims’ names were projected while Bono revealed an American flag sewn inside his jacket.
  • February 8, 2002: At the 2002 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, athletes and first responders carried a tattered American flag recovered from Ground Zero.
  • February 23, 2003: The 45th Annual Grammy Awards honored attack victims; Bruce Springsteen performed "The Rising".
  • Country artist Darryl Worley released his tribute single "Have You Forgotten?" in 2003.
  • Newark International Airport was renamed "Newark Liberty International Airport".
  • September 11, 2002: Representatives from over ninety countries attended Battery Park City's first anniversary commemoration; NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg lit an eternal flame. The Pentagon Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery pays tribute to those whose remains were never recovered.
  • The documentary play Bystander 9/11, which debuted on September 11, 2002, continues to be performed annually across the United States.
  • Ingrid Lahti’s public sculpture memorial was exhibited at Bellevue Downtown Park in Washington state during September–October 2002.

Tenth anniversary commemorations

Multiple organizations organized events on September 11, 2011, marking ten years since the attacks:

  • The official New York City ceremony at the World Trade Center site included four moments of silence aligned with key times during the attacks.
  • At sunset, the Tribute in Light illuminated New York’s skyline with twin beams representing the towers.
  • Liquid Church conducted memorial services across three cities in New Jersey and commissioned an original tribute song titled "There is Hope."
  • Radcliff, Kentucky quickly erected a privately funded memorial incorporating World Trade Center steel within eight weeks for their remembrance event.

Twentieth anniversary ceremonies

The twentieth anniversary coincided with U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan amid Taliban resurgence. Former President George W. Bush likened foreign and domestic extremists as "children of the same foul spirit," sparking political discussion. President Joe Biden joined former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton along with their spouses at ceremonies held at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum; Biden also visited crash sites in Shanksville and at the Pentagon. Former President Donald Trump marked the day by visiting police and firehouses in New York City. Additionally, the U.S. Acting Ambassador to the UK took part in a guard change ceremony at Windsor Castle featuring the U.S. National Anthem.

Annual observances

  • Every September 11th, family members read aloud victims’ names at the National September 11 Memorial; elected officials also attend these ceremonies.
  • Each year, the Tribute in Light project employs eighty-eight searchlights near Ground Zero to form twin vertical columns symbolizing the fallen towers.
  • Nissoria in Sicily holds annual memorial services honoring two local citizens who perished on September 11.

Flags of remembrance

The National 9/11 Flag originated from a tattered American flag discovered near Ground Zero on September 12, 2001. Retrieved under hazardous conditions and preserved for seven years, it embarked on a nationwide tour starting June 14, 2009. Service members and veterans contributed fabric patches to restore its original thirteen stripes. Today it is housed at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

The Remembrance Flag represents national unity following 9/11; its red symbolizes bloodshed; stars signify lost airplanes; blue rectangles depict twin towers; white pentagon stands for the Pentagon building; blue circle denotes unity.

Created shortly after the attacks by Stephan and Joanne Galvin, this National Remembrance Flag incorporates colors representing affected states along with sorrow. Four stars symbolize each plane involved—blue for Flight 77/Pentagon; white for Flights 11 and175/twin towers; red for Flight93/Shanksville—and collectively represent unity.

John Michelotti designed both the National Flag of Honor and National Flag of Heroes to immortalize victims and emergency responders who died on September11. These flags feature victims’ names printed across stripes resembling an American flag along with inscriptions emphasizing remembrance.

Displayed during NYC’s fifth anniversary commemoration at Inwood Hill Park in September2006 alongside thousands of other flags representing those lost, these banners have also appeared on NBC’s Today show and ABC affiliate WVEC.

The Remembrance Flag bears black Roman numerals IX/XI centered on a white background with four black stars representing each crash site.

Digital memorials

Virtual platforms such as Second Life host permanent virtual memorials:

  • Celestial Requiem NYC digitally reconstructs proposed physical memorials to offer early commemoration prior to completion of actual sites.
  • The World Trade Center Memorial within Second Life focuses on honoring victims similarly to how Vietnam Veterans Memorial’s wall functions.

Upcoming September 11 commemorations

  • The Palm Harbor 9/11 Memorial in Florida commenced construction on March 30, 2012; its design incorporates a roughly 150-pound segment of World Trade Center steel, which is property of the Port Authority.

See also

External links

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