Gothamist: City Announces September 11 Remembrance Plans

Diana

Wed, 03 Sep 2003 12:52:16 -0500

All I hope for New York City and the country on this day is that we all have a moment or two to reflect on what happened to our nation on that day, two years ago. We do not need an overdone ceremony to recall the horrific events that occurred and affected each and everyone of our lives. We need to be given our own time to reflect and pray for those lost, both the victims and the rescue workers. This is the only way we might find some peace within ourselves during this tragic period of American history.

Jen

Tue, 12 Aug 2003 11:56:16 -0500

I'm not sure what you're focusing on, but I believe that the victims include various rescue workers and firefighters who may have perished. I think the rescue workers' and firefighters' groups have their own ceremonies. Overall, it seems like the City is trying to streamline the ceremony so it's more simple and reflective. My friend's brother, a firefighter, and whose aunt's brother, someone who worked at 7 WTC, died at the WTC, and for their families, nationalism and glorifying the military are welcome. Everyone copes very differently, and I would guess there will be a range of options to accomodate those needs.

j.

Tue, 12 Aug 2003 11:18:17 -0500

P.S. -- Something else I hope -- and I mean this one with the, um, let us say "proper" amount of respect toward our "elected leaders" (some were, one in particular wasn't, not quite) -- is that the ceremony doesn't turn into a giant flag-waving and military-glorifying orgy. A memorial ceremony is no time for a nationalistic military rally.

j.

Tue, 12 Aug 2003 11:15:13 -0500

All I hope -- and I mean this with all due respect -- is that there's no "special moment" or differentiation for the rescue workers, firefighters, etc, as opposed to those who perished in the buildings or the planes. There's no hierarchy in death, and I would hope that the families of the rescue workers would start to understand this. Those in the buildings that day were doing their jobs as much as the workers were . . . trying to support their families and loved ones.