A Message from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum - watch ceremony live online today

National September 11 Memorial & Museum
Remembering the victims


On September 11, 2001, and in the days that followed, our nation came together in a spirit of unity and resolve as we struggled, with profound shock and overwhelming grief, to comprehend the single largest loss of life from a foreign attack on American soil.

This morning, we stand together at the 9/11 Memorial to remember the nearly 3,000 innocent men, women, and children killed in the attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93, which crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The annual commemoration, centered on the reading of their names, will begin at 8:40 a.m. I invite you to share in this sacred day of remembrance by watching the ceremony live on our website and joining with others on social media in observance of the anniversary, using #Honor911.

Among those reading the names today are children of the victims, some too young to have a memory of the morning that changed their lives forever. They know all too well the imperative of remembering those who were killed. Many have chosen to honor their loved ones and recognize the courageous actions of those who risked their lives to help others, through their own acts of service.

One of them is Jerry D'Amadeo who was just 10 years old on 9/11 when his father, Vincent Gerard D'Amadeo, was killed in the North Tower. Jerry honored the memory of his dad by working with children affected by the mass shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Last year, as a participant in the names reading for the 15th anniversary of 9/11, he reflected that "sometimes the bad things in our lives put us on the path to where we should be going — to help others as many have helped me."

I am always moved when I meet young people like Jerry, who are dedicated to volunteering and public service as their way of commemorating the lives of those who were killed. We were lucky enough to have Jerry join the Museum staff as a member of our Visitor Services team. Every day, he facilitates meaningful encounters with the history presented here, forging a personal link between that history and visitors from around the world.

Our staff is keenly aware of how vitally important it is to convey the significance of 9/11 to young people who will inherit a world defined in so many ways by the events of that terrible day. Later today, our educators will host a webinar about 9/11 that will reach nearly 100,000 students in all 50 states and in schools around the globe — one of many educational programs we offer throughout the year for school children to instill a deeper understanding of the relevance of 9/11 in their lives.

We do all this in tribute to those whose names we will speak out loud today in a powerful act of shared commemoration. Throughout the year, we pledge to follow the inspiring example set by Jerry and others like him to remember the enormity of what was lost, uphold the promise never to forget, and pay attention, as Jerry observed, to "where we should be going" — through actions and commitments that affirm a positive legacy of service.

With sincere respect and warm regards,
Alice M. Greenwald




Alice M. Greenwald
President & CEO




.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

September is National Preparedness Month - Here are some great resources!

Image
It's National Preparedness Month , and start of the Hurricaine Season. With all of the crazy weather we have seen, it's good to be prepared. It is important to consider three scenarios when planning for an emergency: 1) an escape route and meeting point if everyone is in the house; 2) what to do during a school day; and 3) how to handle an emergency during the weekend, when family members might be scattered. Although many people are familiar with the concept of developing a family plan for emergencies, most fail to take the time to sit down and actually come up with one. One great resource is the FEMA -sponsored website: http://www.ready.gov/ . Check out their kids section too:  http://www.ready.gov/kids Schools need to be prepared themselves, as well as teach their staff and students how to be prepared. Each household, business, and school should have an emergency plan, emergency kits and people trained in emergency preparedness and response. I started my training in emergency...
Read more

Social Media and Kids - what you should know - guest post

Image
How Kids Are Using Mainstream Social Apps What You Should Know About Your Child’s Social Media Platforms The Most Popular Social Apps Among Teens and How They’re Using Them What Are the Mainstream Social Apps and How Are Teens Using Them? Guest Post: Hilary Bird is a digital journalist who writes about the things that fascinate her the most: relationships, technology, and how they impact each other. As more and more people become more and more reliant on their tech devices, Hilary wants to help them stay safe and understand how these devices will reshape the way we communicate. According to new research by the Pew Research Center, 95% of teens say they have access to a smartphone, and 45% indicate that they’re online “almost constantly.” With increasingly easy access to social media via smart devices—and an hour’s worth of social media data being within reach in under two seconds as internet speeds grow—parents and teachers should stay informed and aware of what social media platfor...
Read more

Google for Education Best Practices Resources and Tips

Image
Google Apps for Education and Chromebooks  are very popular with education for many reasons, one of which is the ease of management and deployment. The Admin Console allows staff to manage apps, user settings, devices settings and much more. Here are some tips and best practices for settings in the Admin Console. The Admin Console is relatively easy to use, although some settings can be hard to find. Remember to use the help features by clicking on the question marks throughout the console. The icons on the console can be moved and arranged via drag-and-drop so you can put the ones you use most up front. Typically, Users, Device Management, and Apps are the most used.  Here are some excellent resources: Resources for IT Teams (G Suite for Education) - Learn more about G Suite for Education and Chromebooks, review best practices for deploying the tools smoothly, and access support when you need it. Transition Guides - help prepare your organization for the switch to G Suite. ...
Read more