The MEMO Blog

Around 300 FDNY probationary firefighters lined the South Pool of the 9/11 Memorial on Monday to lay a wreath near the inscribed names of the 343 members of the FDNY who were killed in the line of duty on 9/11.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s public programming season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 17, with a conversation with Garrett Graff, author of “The Only Plane in the Sky." Graff talked to the MEMO blog about his inspiration for and experience of writing this book.

Each year, during the week of September 11, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum hosts, supports or participates in many commemorative events and special programs to highlight that the effects of these attacks are still felt. These are some of the events we held to this week to mark the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum selected Las Vegas, Pittsburgh and Greece as recipients of this year’s “Survivor Tree” seedlings. The communities, which have recently been impacted by extreme disaster or violence, have committed to nurturing these trees to serve as landmarks symbolizing resiliency and hope.

Family members, survivors, first responders and elected officials gathered at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on Wednesday to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

In an especially noteworthy tribute to those killed in the 9/11 attacks, the San Francisco Giants flank their iconic statue of Willie Mays Jr. with the names of victims. This tribute emphasizes the important link between 9/11 and California, where all four hijacked flights were headed that morning.

Every day of the year, visitors to the 9/11 Memorial leave tribute items at the names of victims or on the 9/11 Memorial Glade. Some of these items are from family members keeping the memory of their loved ones alive. Others are from complete strangers expressing a connection to someone they never met.

Educational programs teach students about the 9/11 attacks and memorialization.

In partnership with cultural institutions throughout all five boroughs of New York City and in New Jersey, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum will screen an excerpt of Wolfgang Staehle’s “2001” – a dual channel video work that captured the approach of hijacked plane Flight 11 and its impact.

I’ve known since I was little that although something terrible happened on the day I was born, my birth gave hope to my parents and the people around them. But until I visited the 9/11 Memorial for the first time this summer, I didn’t fully comprehend that a hole, both real and spiritual, was blown into the Earth on the day I was born.