Sept. 11 Lights Will Return This Year From Top Of Mount Mitchill

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — Monmouth County government just announced this week that their "Tribute in Lights" will return in 2023 in honor of 9/11.

This is not to be confused with the "Tribute in Light" hosted by New York City, where two beams of light are sent up from where the World Trade Center towers once stood.

It was in 2020 when Monmouth County started hosting its own twin beams of light shot up from the top of Mount Mitchill.

Monmouth County decided to do this after New York City announced it would not be shining the lights in 2020 due to concerns about coronavirus. At the time, New York City officials said "the health risks (of coronavirus) were far too great for the large crew required" to set up the lights.

In response, Monmouth County said they would be beaming their own lights.

The lights have been hosted every Sept. 11 since from Mount Mitchill in Atlantic Highlands.

This year, the lights will be illuminated from sunset to 11 p.m. on Sept. 11, rain or shine. The lights will be visible throughout Monmouth County and along the Raritan Bayshore.

One hundred and forty seven Monmouth County residents were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, many of them employees who worked in the World Trade Center, but also dozens of first responders and Port Authority Police officers.

“The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners began the ‘Tribute in Lights’ in 2020 and we believe it is incredibly important to continue this tradition as we once again observe this dark day in our nation’s history,” said Commissioner Director Tom Arnone. “Monmouth County will never forget the 147 men and women who called our county home and lost their lives on 9/11.”

The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners also invites everyone to attend their Sept. 11 memorial ceremony at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11. It will be held on the top of Mount Mitchill.

At 266 feet, Mount Mitchill scenic overlook in Atlantic Highlands sits on the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic seaboard (excluding islands) from Maine to the Yucatan peninsula, providing beautiful views of Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and the New York skyline. This 12-acre site is also home to Monmouth County's 9/11 Memorial.