NYC Marathon Artifact On View at the 9/11 Museum

This Sunday, thousands of New Yorkers will rise early, line the New York City Marathon course and cheer heartily for the 50,000 anticipated marathoners. Over the past 46 years since the race was first held, race day has become an unofficial holiday to many New Yorkers. A runner’s bib from 1994 now on view in the 9/11 Memorial Museum tells the story of one past participant’s zeal for this event.

“If there was one word to describe my brother’s approach to running, and to life in general, it was ‘disciplined,’” said his brother Joel Perry. “He was a man with a mission, and he was always in training to fulfill it to his best.”

While NYPD officer John Perry completed five marathons in his lifetime, distance running was just one of his many interests. Perry earned his Juris Doctorate from New York University Law School, spoke multiple languages, served on the board of the Nassau Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and dabbled in professional acting.

On the morning of Sept. 11, Perry was at police headquarters filling out his retirement paperwork so he could embark upon a new career as a malpractice lawyer. When he heard of the attack on the World Trade Center, he responded. He was last seen helping a woman to safety when the North Tower fell.

The race bib on view represents Perry’s accomplishments and those of other 9/11 victims who participated over the years. The marathon still serves as a unifying force for those in New York City who cherish this annual ritual.

By Jenny Pachucki, 9/11 Memorial Content Strategist