Published January 14, 2015
The ceremony on the third anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks will feature parents and grandparents reading the names of their loves ones who died that day.
"We are forever mindful of the grief still felt by the families, and heartfelt in our desire to honor the heroes of the day," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (search) said Monday, announcing the plans with Gov. George Pataki (search). He said having parents and grandparents read out the names would thank them and "acknowledge their great sacrifice."
The third anniversary will also include the "Tribute in Light" at the site of the World Trade Center towers. The twin towers of light stretch above the Manhattan skyline and turn the tribute skyward.
The lower Manhattan memorial lights were first sent into the sky on March 11, 2002, to mark six months since the terrorist attack that claimed 2,792 victims in New York and brought down the twin 110-story towers. Each year on the anniversary of the attack, the lights go on for one day at ground zero.
"New Yorkers and people from around the world will always remember that on Sept. 11, those who believe in freedom overcame those who believe in fear," Pataki said.
Pataki and Bloomberg will begin the solemn third anniversary memorial with an early morning observance at the site, from where the Freedom Tower (search) and other construction projects are rising.
Parents and grandparents will be among 200 readers of victims' names. The reading will pause at four moments: Twice to mark the times that each plane hit the towers and two more times to mark each time when the towers fell.
Relatives of victims will be able to walk a ramp to the lowest level of the Trade Center site where they may lay flowers.
At 8:46 a.m., the time the first jetliner crashed, a statewide moment of silence will be held while houses of worship toll bells.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/parents-to-read-names-at-sept-11-ceremony