LOWER MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) – Twenty-three years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, families of the victims honored their loved ones Wednesday morning during a private ceremony in Lower Manhattan.
The program at Memorial Plaza started at 8:40 a.m. and concluded just before 1 p.m. While it was not open to the public, the ceremony was broadcast on the PIX11 Morning News and livestreamed on PIX11.com.
The ceremony included six moments of silence, signifying when each of the towers were struck and fell, the time of the attack on the Pentagon, and the crash of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.
During the ceremony, loved ones read aloud the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the 9/11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Family members shared tearful tributes to the victims, many speaking directly to their loved ones or urging viewers to never forget.
One woman who escaped one of the towers during the attack remembered her fiance, Andrew J. Bailey.
“Losing you on September 11th changed my life forever,” she said. “I’m here to remind everyone that life can change in the blink of an eye. So love more, especially your neighbors. Live more, laugh more with family and friends because we are not promised tomorrow.”
Many speakers were too young to have met their lost loved ones, like a young girl who paid tribute to her uncle, firefighter Christopher Michael Mozzillo.
“When I was younger, I was told that you were super brave, but standing up here today made me realize how much of a hero you actually are,” his niece said. “All of us notice the signs you send us big and small.”
In the crowd, Gov. Kathy Hochul, President Joe Biden, and presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris watched on. Some families spoke directly to the politicians.
“It has been 23 years and the families deserve justice and accountability,” said the wife of late FDNY Chief Gerard A. Barbara. “Please remember that the September 11th families live it every day, not just on the anniversary.”
On Wednesday night, two blue beams positioned to echo the Twin Towers will light up the sky. The Tribute in Light will last from dusk until dawn and can be seen as far as 60 miles away.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum opened at 8 a.m. Wednesday and will close at 7 p.m., but the last entry will be 5:30 p.m.