This year's annual remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero incorporated a new moment of silence dedicated to the thousands of individuals who have succumbed to illnesses stemming from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
This seventh moment of silence followed the reading of the names of the 2,977 people killed at the site on September 11, 2001, and the six victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Previously, the ceremony observed six pauses to mark the times the Twin Towers were struck and fell, the Pentagon attack, and the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
More than 9,400 people are now estimated to have died from 9/11-related illnesses, a number more than triple the fatalities on the day of the attacks. Many others continue to suffer from long-term health issues, including cancers and respiratory infections.
During the reading of names, one attendee shared the story of her father, retired NYPD Officer John Napolitano Sr., who died in 2024 after a battle with a post-9/11 illness. Her father had spent weeks searching the ruins of Ground Zero for his son, FDNY Lt. John P. Napolitano Jr., who perished in the North Tower collapse at age 33.
"But I find peace knowing that they’re finally together again," the granddaughter said of her father and grandfather at the ceremony. FDNY Lt. John P. Napolitano Jr. was remembered for his bravery, last seen entering the North Tower with Rescue 2 before it fell.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum announced earlier this year that the new moment of silence would become a permanent addition to the annual observance. This change comes after years of advocacy by survivors and their families, who pushed for legislation to protect those facing chronic illnesses as a result of their exposure at Ground Zero.
This addition aims to help future generations understand the sacrifices made by first responders and others who worked at the site, often without knowledge of the long-term health consequences of the toxic environment.