Blue lights will tower for Sept. 11 tribute
The Tribute in Light is illuminated next to One World Trade
Center during events marking the 11th anniversary of the
9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York September
11, 2012. REUTERS / Gary Hershorn, File
Caribbean Life, Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2020 11
The two beams of light
that since Sept. 11, 2001 replicates
the Twin Towers felled
by alleged terrorists will again
soar into the night-sky in commemoration
to the 2,977 fallen
victims and the then global
status of the world’s tallest
buildings.
Back on schedule, the
redeeming tradition was
announced by Gov. Andrew
Cuomo who had previously
cancelled the ceremonial tribute
due to fears of a possible
threat of new infected cases of
the dreaded COVID-19 virus.
As with many public gatherings,
reports were that the risk
of exposing workers to unsafe
conditions might cause an
uptick in new infected cases.
Cancellation seemed a
responsible decision to safeguard
the health and safety
of workers who would have to
work in close proximity to prepare
for the national tribute.
However, five days after
delivering the disappointing
news, Gov. Cuomo reversed the
decision saying: “Honoring our
9/11 heroes is a cherished tradition.”
Because of that fact, pressure
from families of victims,
civil servants and others and
with assistance from philanthropists,
he ensured the state
will pick up the tab for health
care workers and supervisors
as well as secure safety standards
according to CDC guidelines.
In a tweet recently he said:
“The virus has taken so much
and so many. But now the tribute
will continue.”
“I am glad that we can continue
this powerful tribute to
those we lost on 9/11 and to the
heroism of all New Yorkers.”
In the reassuring style he
applied when New York was
considered the epicenter of
the pandemic the governor
addressed the issue and quickly
calmed the fears of dissenters
who rebuked him for the cancellation.
“The twin towers of light
signify hope, resiliency, promise
and are a visual representation
of #NewYorkTough,” he
said.
He delivered the change
of plans via social media and
announced the 2020 tribute
will again send two towering
beams of light from Ground
Zero, four miles into the nightsky.
First introduced on the
six-month anniversary of the
alleged terrorist attack when
two commercial airplanes
crashed into the Twin Towers
on a primary election day, the
tribute has become a mainstay
for aggrieved families, the
city’s frontline workers and
residents.
The governor attributed the
reversal to a partnership with
former Mayor Michael Bloomberg
who chairs the National 911
Museum and Memorial.
According to reports, the
philanthropist donated funds
that will continue the tradition
and in addition aid in providing
safeguards to protect workers
and families susceptible to
infection from the virus.
“I am pleased that once
again it will shine this year as a
beacon of our city’s resilience,”
Bloomberg said.
“Throughout my tenure as
mayor the Tribute in Light
was a powerful symbol of New
York’s recovery after 911.”
Before the agreement was
reached politicians and numerous
elected officials sided with
police, firefighters and union
leaders to criticize the early
decision to cancel the solemn
commemoration.
“The Towers of Light have
been, and will always be, a
symbol showing that New York
City and this country cannot
be kept down, and will stand
strong and proud in the face
of any tragedy or disaster,”
Andrew Ansbro, president of
the Uniform Firefighters Association
said.
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
AndrewSorrentinofuneralservice.com
/AndrewSorrentinofuneralservice.com