While different because of the pandemic, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum marks the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with its annual ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City.
This year, recorded name readings from the museum's "In Memoriam" exhibit will be done in place of family members reading the names of the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the tragedy. The readings have been a powerful part of past 9/11 anniversaries and have included personal messages, which will be absent this year.
The museum said that it was exercising an "abundance of caution" in trying to keep victims' families and other attendees safe at the ceremony.
Besides the recorded name readings, the 2020 ceremony will be similar to past events, including six moments of silence to be held to mark when the World Trade Center towers were attacked and fell; when the Pentagon was attacked; and when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. Family members will still be able to attend the ceremony on the memorial plaza in Manhattan, but they must wear masks and adhere to social distancing and other requirements.
Vice President Mike Pence also is expected to attend the ceremony.
