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September, 11, 2003
MSNBC NEWS SERVICES
NEW YORK, Sept. 11 — The nation marked Thursday with moments of silence and public reflections on the more than 3,000 lives lost two years ago on Sept. 11, 2001. At Ground Zero, bagpipers, a drummer and guards escorted an American flag into where the World Trade Center towers had stood as children sang The Star-Spangled Banner. Other children, some in tears, read the 2,792 names of parents and other loved ones killed that day as hijacked jets crashed into the towers, bringing them down as the world watched in horror.
Many of the 200 children included a personal message. Christina Marie Aceto, 12, said: “I love you, Daddy. I miss you a lot. Richard Anthony Aceto.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, speaking on NBC’s “Today” show ahead of the ceremony, said that “we’re trying to look to the future and that’s why we have the children of those that were lost reading the names.
“The children tie us to the past ... and the future, where the children will go out and get on with their lives,” he said.
The ceremony fell silent at four moments: at 8:46 a.m. ET and 9:03 a.m., when hijackers crashed two passenger planes into the 110-story World Trade Center towers; and at 9:59 a.m. and 10:29 a.m., when each tower crumbled to the ground.
Readings between the silences and names included a poem written by the mother of a fallen firefighter. Joan Molinaro began her poem to her son, Carl Molinaro, with these words:
“In the quiet of my heart
I hold your hand
Little boy of mine.”
The readings took 2½ hours; two trumpeters blew taps as a postscript.
Some of the victims’ family members knelt to touch the trade center’s bedrock during the ceremony, and a few scooped up handfuls of dirt. As the names were read, some held cell phones up so others unable to attend could hear.The children provided a source of pride and a sense of honor.
“I’m very proud of my children,” said Lynn Morris, whose husband, Seth Allan Morris, died Sept. 11, 2001. Their two children, 11-year-old Madilynn and 9-year-old Kyle, read names. “It’s amazing the strength that they have developed over the years.”
Morris looked up articles so that her children could match faces to the names. Madilynn was reading 14 names, finishing with that of her father, who was 35 and worked at Cantor Fitzgerald in the trade center.
“I thought it would be a good way to honor my dad,” Madilynn said, “and to honor the other people.”
During the readings, families of victims descended a ramp into the seven-story pit that was the trade center basement and placed flowers and photos on the bedrock.
At sunset, two light beams pointing skyward were to be switched on, evoking the image of the twin towers in a reprise of a popular monthlong memorial unveiled in March 2002.
Some people began gathering outside the trade center site Wednesday night.
“I was here last year on an all-night vigil,” said Delia Colon, who was draped in an American flag. “I’m here this year on an all-night vigil. As long as I have breath, I will be here on an all-night vigil.”
NEW YORK, Sept. 11 — The nation marked Thursday with moments of silence and public reflections on the more than 3,000 lives lost two years ago on Sept. 11, 2001. At Ground Zero, bagpipers, a drummer and guards escorted an American flag into where the World Trade Center towers had stood as children sang The Star-Spangled Banner. Other children, some in tears, read the 2,792 names of parents and other loved ones killed that day as hijacked jets crashed into the towers, bringing them down as the world watched in horror.
Many of the 200 children included a personal message. Christina Marie Aceto, 12, said: “I love you, Daddy. I miss you a lot. Richard Anthony Aceto.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, speaking on NBC’s “Today” show ahead of the ceremony, said that “we’re trying to look to the future and that’s why we have the children of those that were lost reading the names.
“The children tie us to the past ... and the future, where the children will go out and get on with their lives,” he said.
The ceremony fell silent at four moments: at 8:46 a.m. ET and 9:03 a.m., when hijackers crashed two passenger planes into the 110-story World Trade Center towers; and at 9:59 a.m. and 10:29 a.m., when each tower crumbled to the ground.
Readings between the silences and names included a poem written by the mother of a fallen firefighter. Joan Molinaro began her poem to her son, Carl Molinaro, with these words:
“In the quiet of my heart
I hold your hand
Little boy of mine.”
The readings took 2½ hours; two trumpeters blew taps as a postscript.
Some of the victims’ family members knelt to touch the trade center’s bedrock during the ceremony, and a few scooped up handfuls of dirt. As the names were read, some held cell phones up so others unable to attend could hear.The children provided a source of pride and a sense of honor.
“I’m very proud of my children,” said Lynn Morris, whose husband, Seth Allan Morris, died Sept. 11, 2001. Their two children, 11-year-old Madilynn and 9-year-old Kyle, read names. “It’s amazing the strength that they have developed over the years.”
Morris looked up articles so that her children could match faces to the names. Madilynn was reading 14 names, finishing with that of her father, who was 35 and worked at Cantor Fitzgerald in the trade center.
“I thought it would be a good way to honor my dad,” Madilynn said, “and to honor the other people.”
During the readings, families of victims descended a ramp into the seven-story pit that was the trade center basement and placed flowers and photos on the bedrock.
At sunset, two light beams pointing skyward were to be switched on, evoking the image of the twin towers in a reprise of a popular monthlong memorial unveiled in March 2002.
Some people began gathering outside the trade center site Wednesday night.
“I was here last year on an all-night vigil,” said Delia Colon, who was draped in an American flag. “I’m here this year on an all-night vigil. As long as I have breath, I will be here on an all-night vigil.”
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