EVERY NAME WILL ECHO THROUGH NY

The victims of 9/11, including Australians, will be remembered in a special way in the 20th anniversary commemorations of the infamous day, reports Megan Palin in New York

ALL of them, the almost 3000 souls, will have a voice. They will be more than a grim statistic. The 20th anniversary 9/11 commemoration ceremonies will be led in New York at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum where the victims’ names will be read out.

“The focus of our commemoration will be the reading of the names by family members in person,” organisers said.

“Throughout the ceremony, we will observe six moments of silence, acknowledging when each of the World Trade Center towers was struck and fell and the times corresponding to the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93.”

But much like last year, Covid travel restrictions mean many families will be unable to make 20th commemoration events in the US. Ceremonies like the reading of victims’ names mean their loved ones will still be honoured.

President Joe Biden was on Saturday due to visit all three 9/11 memorial sites and pay his respects.

Mr Biden was to visit ground zero in New York City, the Pentagon and the memorial outside Shanksville, where United Flight 93 was forced down, the White House said.

First lady Jill Biden was to accompany him.

Vice President Kamala Harris was to travel to Shanksville for a separate event before joining the president at the Pentagon, the White House said.

Ms Harris was to travel and attend events with her spouse, Doug Emhoff.

Former US president George W. Bush and first lady Laura, who occupied the White House on the day of the 9/11 attacks, were to pay tribute in a virtual online message to the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93.

Australian ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos and Australian Consul General to New York Nick Greiner were also expected to make a “special address” for the event.

At sundown, the annual “Tribute in Light” was set to illuminate the sky.

Genevieve Gyulavary, and, inset, with her f ather Peter. This image of firefighter Louie Cacchioli (left) helping a fire chief after the towers collapsed made him a face of September 11.

Searching the rubble which once was the World Trade Center buildings.

Hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston crashes into the World Trade Center. The moment president George W. Bush was told of the attacks. Stephen, Dorry and Emily Tompsett in July 2001.