Commemoration Ceremony of the 23rd Anniversary of May 30, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 30, 2025
NEW YORK CITY PAYS TRIBUTE TO 9/11 RESCUE AND RECOVERY WORKERS WITH COMMEMORATION CEREMONY OF THE 23RD ANNIVERSARY OF MAY 30, 2002
This annual event also recognizes the continuing impact of 9/11 by honoring those who are suffering or have died from 9/11-related health effects.
NEW YORK – Today, May 30, at 10:30 a.m. on the 9/11 Memorial Glade, a commemoration ceremony was held in observance of the 23rd anniversary of the formal end of rescue, recovery, and relief efforts at Ground Zero on May 30, 2002. This annual observance honored the courage of 9/11 rescue, recovery, and relief workers who spent nine months working the pile at Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The ceremony also paid tribute to those who are sick or have died from 9/11 related illnesses and injuries linked to exposure to hazards and toxins related to their service.
The ceremony featured an interagency honor guard, pipes and drums, and the singing of the National Anthem by the FDNY. The FDNY also led a moment of silence, followed by remarks from Dr. Kerry Kelly, former FDNY Chief Medical Officer. Logan Miller, 9/11 Family Member and 9/11 Memorial & Museum Visionary Network Leadership Council member, read aloud the Glade’s inscription.
“We gather each year to honor the service and compassion of the 9/11 rescue and recovery worker community, who cleared a path to begin our national healing, because their resilience can inspire a new generation who did not witness its magnitude. Nearly a quarter century later, the impact of that day is still present for tens of thousands of responders, construction workers, volunteers, and survivors who are suffering from debilitating, lethal illnesses,” said 9/11 Memorial & Museum President & CEO, Beth Hillman, “And it has never been more important to help the public understand that for these brave individuals, 9/11 is not over.”
In addition to the Memorial Glade, which was dedicated to this community in 2019, there are two related installations currently on view in the Museum. The first, called "Dust: Illness and Advocacy After 9/11," explores the impacts of the toxic dust that blanketed lower Manhattan after the attacks. The second, called “Faces of Ground Zero,” features portraits of 9/11 rescue and recovery workers by photographer Joe McNally featured in the North Tower Excavation in Foundation Hall. Additionally, individuals eligible for the World Trade Center Health program and the immediate family members of those who have died from 9/11-related illnesses and injuries receive complimentary admission to the Museum. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum continues to honor rescue and recovery workers, while also shedding light on the impact of 9/11 health effects through education and public programs. You can learn more by visiting 911memorial.org.
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the country’s principal institution concerned with exploring 9/11, documenting its impact, and examining its continuing significance. This mission is advanced through commemoration, education, and inspiration. Located on eight of the 16 acres of the World Trade Center site, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum remembers and honors the 2,983 victims killed on September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993. Through exhibitions, a wide variety of programs, and commemorative events, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum seeks to educate the public – particularly the 100 million Americans born since the attacks or those too young to remember – about the consequences of terrorism and its impact on individuals and communities. Through preserving and sharing stories of resilience, compassion, and service, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum hopes to inspire individuals to build a more compassionate and secure world.
For more information or to reserve a ticket to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, please visit 911memorial.org.
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Erin Gaddis (214) 673-9435 | press@911memorial.org
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