Organizers of the annual “Tribute in Light” in New York City to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, said the two ghostly beams will not shine this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It takes a large crew of workers about a week to set up the twin beams that represent the two towers of the World Trade Center that were hit by airplanes, killing thousands of people.
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“Tribute in Light, the world’s beloved twin beams of light, will not shine over lower Manhattan as part of this year’s 9/11 commemoration.
This incredibly difficult decision was reached in consultation with our partners after concluding the health risks during the pandemic were far too great for the large crew required to produce the annual Tribute in Light. We hope to resume this iconic tribute for the 20th anniversary.
In a spirit of unity and remembrance, the city will come together for a “Tribute in Lights” initiative to inspire the world and honor the promise to never forget,” said a statement on the website for the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
Instead, the Memorial and Museum “is partnering with NYC & Company and buildings throughout the city to light up their facades and spires in blue in commemoration of the 19th anniversary of 9/11. In a spirit of unity and remembrance, the city will come together for a ‘Tribute in Lights’ to inspire the world and honor the promise to never forget.
Many iconic New York City buildings will be lighting their spires and facades in blue to honor those killed on 9/11.”
The “Tribute in Light” is assembled each year on the roof of the Battery Parking Garage south of the 9/11 Memorial.
“The twin beams reach up to four miles into the sky and are comprised of eighty-eight 7,000-watt xenon lightbulbs positioned into two 48-foot squares, echoing the shape and orientation of the Twin Towers.”
According to the New York Times, construction of the memorial takes almost 40 people working in close proximity for more than a week to assemble the “88 specially made Space Cannon lights.” The lights are powered by generators.
The Memorial and Museum also will not have family members reading the names of the victims in person this year. Instead, recordings of the family members reading the names will be used.
“This year, the names, read by family members, will be broadcast via speakers placed at multiple locations across the Memorial plaza. Families may choose to stand near their loved ones’ names on the Memorial pools or sit on benches under the trees, without fear of being too close to others, as they listen.”
During the 2020 ceremony, there will still be the six moments of silence “acknowledging when each of the World Trade Center towers was struck and fell, and the times corresponding to the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93. Our program will commence at 8:30 a.m., and the first moment of silence will be observed at 8:46 a.m. We will encourage houses of worship to toll their bells at that time.”
Those attending will be required to wear face masks and abide by social distancing.
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