Remembering 9/11 Amid Coronavirus: Service In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Over the years, the nation has come together at ceremonies in Alexandria 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.

The City of Alexandria's ceremony will go virtual in 2020. On Friday, Sept. 11, residents are invited to watch the virtual remembrance ceremony to pay tribute to those who died as well as those who responded and sacrificed their lives to save others.

The events of Sept. 11 hit close to home, with the Pentagon being a few miles north of the city. Alexandria firefighters were part of the response to the Pentagon after the building was targeted in the attacks.

Alexandria's ceremony is prerecorded and virtual to avoid a large gathering during the pandemic. It will include remarks from Mayor Justin Wilson, City Manager Mark Jinks, and representatives from the Alexandria Fire Department, Police Department, and Sheriff’s Office. There will also be a "Return to Quarters" bell-ringing ceremony.

The video will be available on Sept. 11 at alexandriava.gov.

In Arlington County, 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 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 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.