FINANCIAL DISTRICT — On Sunday, the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks will be marked by a series of solemn events in the city.
Here's a look at some of the memorials:
For the first time, to mark the 15th anniversary of 9/11, the NYPD will lead a parade in honor of the 23 officers killed on 9/11, and the additional 99 who died in later months and years because of 9/11-related illnesses. The parade is slated for Friday, Sept. 9, from noon to 3 p.m. The procession will begin near the Wall Street Bull on Broadway in Lower Manhattan, and end at the NYPD's Police Memorial Wall, in Battery Park City, near Liberty Street and South End Avenue.
9/11 Memorial Ceremony Livestream
The 9/11 Memorial will offer a webcast of the annual commemoration ceremony at the World Trade Center site — a closed gathering for family and loved ones of victims — which includes a reading of the names of the nearly 3,000 victims. The webcast will be available Sept. 11 on the 9/11 Memorial's website beginning at 8:46 a.m., marking the time when the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center, and will run until about noon. The plaza reopens to the public at 3 p.m.
Twin beams of light, representing the fallen Twin Towers, will shine skyward from Lower Manhattan for the annual Tribute in Light Sunday evening. The blue beams, made from 88 lights, will start to glow at dusk and will fade away at dawn. The sun is slated to set at 7:11 p.m. The lights can be seen in a 60-mile radius of Lower Manhattan, but the 9/11 Memorial Plaza will remain open until midnight for those wishing to pay respects from the plaza. The lights are best seen when it is completely dark.
Bell of Hope, Calling of the Names at St. Paul's Chapel
At 8:46 a.m. Sunday, the Bell of Hope at St. Paul's Chapel, at Broadway and Fulton Street, will toll to mark the first plane's collision into the World Trade Center 15 years ago. The bell was a gift from London to New York City in 2002. It will toll in four sets of five rings. The chapel, which became a home for rescue workers in the days after 9/11, will also hold a ceremony to memorialize the rescue workers who died in the months after the attacks at 3:30 p.m.
FDNY Memorial Service at FDNY Museum
The FDNY Museum, at 278 Spring St., will host a memorial service commemorating the 343 firefighters that were killed on 9/11. The service starts at 1 p.m. The museum will be open for free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Volunteer For 9/11 Day of Service
For some, giving back is the best way to honor those who died on 9/11. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities, including a campaign to make 500,000 sandwiches for seniors, veterans and those at risk of hunger. Head to Basketball City, Pier 36, 299 South St., to join the sandwich making starting at 7 a.m. Sunday. Sign up for a sandwich making slot here.
