Rescue and Recovery Workers Honored in Special Ceremony at 9/11 Memorial Museum

Members of the 9/11 community gathered at the 9/11 Memorial Museum Wednesday night to mark the 16th anniversary of the completion of the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero.

First responders, rescue and recovery workers, lower Manhattan residents and survivors of the attack came together near the Last Column in Foundation Hall for a special ceremony to honor the brave individuals who served with dedication and selflessness after the attack.

The ceremony paid tribute to those who took part in the nine-month recovery operations at Ground Zero, which removed 1.8 million tons of material from the World Trade Center site. A special program featuring firsthand accounts from individuals who aided in the relief efforts during the recovery operation preceded the ceremony.

Earlier in the day, a design was unveiled for a dedicated space to honor the ongoing sacrifice of rescue, recovery and relief workers, and the survivors and members of the broader lower Manhattan community, who are sick or have died from exposure to toxins at the World Trade Center site in the aftermath of 9/11.

“For these individuals and their families, 9/11 is not past history,” said 9/11 Memorial & Museum President and CEO Alice Greenwald. “It is a present challenge they confront every day.” 

See more from the May 30 events below. Visit our Facebook page to watch a stream of the ceremony.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff