FDNY firefighters are being asked not to attend in-person memorial events for this year's Sept. 11 anniversary because of the public health threat COVID-19 still poses.
The request to stay away from the events was made by Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro in a letter sent to the department's members, WNBC-TV reports. Citing the current pandemic, Nigro emphasized that retired members, as well as relatives of 9/11 victims, could be at a greater risk because they are potentially in age and health groups that makes them more susceptible to the virus.
"This year, September 11 is particularly more poignant due to the extreme challenges we faced in the spring, and continue to confront today, with the COVID-19 pandemic. … At the same time, we must balance that with our obligation to keep our current and former members, and their families, healthy and safe from the ever-looming threat of the COVID-19 virus," he wrote.
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Nigro did describe ways FDNY members could attend in-person memorials this year.
"However, the Department respects our traditions and will authorize certain events if currently accepted protective conditions can be adhered to," he added.
In the letter, Nigro outlined the following guidelines that could make events a possibility:
- Indoor events at any FDNY facilities are not allowed, and any events at these locations must be outside and limited to a maximum of 50 people, per state regulations.
- Everyone attending events should wear mandatory face coverings.
- Attendees must practice social distancing of at least 6 feet.
- Adequate hand sanitizer supplies must be available.
- Borough commanders/bureau heads must approve all events, and they can run for a maximum of two hours.
Public discussions of how New York City's 9/11 events would be held—if at all—this year in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic began in July. That's when the National September 11 Memorial & Museum announced that recorded name readings of victims would be done instead of the traditional live personal tributes at the 2020 ceremony at the memorial plaza at the World Trade Center site. The name readings have been especially powerful parts of past anniversaries, and some relatives said they were upset to see them dropped this year.
Earlier this month, the museum had canceled the annual "Tribute in Light," a display that casts twin light beams skyward to represent the two towers of the World Trade Center. The cost and health risks associated with employing the large work crews to put together the display was the reason given for the cancellation.
But the museum reversed its decision concerning the display after the public and political backlash over the cancellation. Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg also agreed to help pay for the display, and Gov. Cuomo has promised to provide state health workers for the event.
