Remembering 9/11 Amid Coronavirus: Services In Monmouth County

MONMOUTH COUNTY – Over the years, the nation has come together at ceremonies in Monmouth County and other U.S. communities to commemorate the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

However, as the 19th anniversary of the attacks arrives, ceremonies are likely to look different.

To date, more than 6 million Americans have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting community leaders to put in place extra precautions and enhanced safety measures at these annual events. While some communities are moving events online, others are canceling events out of an abundance of caution.

Monmouth County is one of many communities planning 9/11 ceremonies amid the pandemic.

Union Beach will be holding its own tribute ceremony on Sept. 11 and 12, complete with tribute lights and words from county and state dignitaries. From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on both days, two sets of lights – which can reportedly be seen for miles – will be projected into the sky using a SkyTracker STX4.

On Sept. 11, a special ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. in the parking lot across from the American Legion, featuring the Union Beach Fire Department Honor Guard and all emergency services.

"It just shows that Union Beach will never forget that day in our history. We're right across the water from them and wanted some place for people to remember their lost ones," Union Beach councilman Al Lewandowski told Patch.

All attendees are asked to wear masks and maintain social distancing.

Related: Sept. 11 Tribute Lights, Ceremony Scheduled In Union Beach

While there won’t be a formal ceremony this year, nearby Holmdel will be offering roses and candles at the memorial garden at Town Hall in memory of the lives lost. Read more: Holmdel 9/11 Memorial: A Touchstone in the Heart of Town

Howell Township, which hosts an annual memorial at 251 Preventorium Road, will host its tribute on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. Guests are asked to maintain social distancing and wear face coverings.

The Howell Police Honor Guard will be present and the Howell Township Council is slated to speak.

Similarly, Wall Township is hosting a memorial on Sept. 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. outside the Howell Township Municipal Complex.

Marlboro Township will be holding an in-person ceremony on Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m. for families who lost loved ones in 2001. All other residents are invited to watch the tribute via Facebook Live.

Manalapan Township will be holding its annual remembrance ceremony on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. outside Town Hall.

“Again we ask that those joining us wear a mask and social distance from other families. Please bring your own flashlight as we will not be handing out candles this year,” the township wrote on its website.

Red Bank officials will also oversee a Patriot Day service at Riverside Gardens Park at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 11.

Services held at 9/11 attack sites will also look different this year because of the pandemic. Some have already faced a series of hurdles to go on as planned.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to send state health personnel to New York City to provide supervision during the annual "Tribute in Light" ceremony, a commemoration of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

Cuomo said staff will be on hand to “ensure this year's tribute is held safely.”

Cuomo's announcement came just days after 9/11 Memorial & Museum officials had nixed the 2020 tribute due to coronavirus concerns.

Now, the focus of the New York City commemoration will be reading the names of victims. Family members will not read the names in person this year; instead, recorded readings from the museum’s In Memoriam exhibition will be used for the ceremony.

In Arlington County, Virginia, located just outside Washington, D.C., the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial remains closed to visitors because of COVID-19 restrictions. Arlington County typically holds an annual remembrance ceremony, which this year will be held virtually. Specific plans for this year’s service will be released the week of Sept. 11, according to county spokesperson Erika Moore.

In Pennsylvania, the National Park Service will hold an abbreviated ceremony at Shanksville. The 20-minute “Moment of Remembrance” is set to begin at 9:45 a.m., without a keynote speaker or musical guests.

The names of each passenger and crew member from Flight 93 will be read aloud with the ringing of the “Bells of Remembrance,” according to the agency’s website.

Both President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden plan to visit Shanksville on Friday. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, will attend Sept. 11 memorial ceremonies in New York this year.