LinkNYC kiosks throughout New York City are now displaying stories of individuals and groups who contributed to the city's recovery following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The "Memory Makers 9/11" initiative aims to highlight the efforts of those who helped rebuild the city's spirit in the days, weeks, and months after the attacks.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that in the aftermath of the "horrific terror attacks," New Yorkers "came together in ways big and small to help our city recover." He added, "We recovered together then, and we will remember together now – by telling the stories of the everyday heroes we lost, honoring the heroes who remain and recognizing that 9/11 was a day that never ended, with consequences that continue to shape us today."
The project maps out the stories of New Yorkers who were instrumental in the recovery efforts during the period of uncertainty that followed the attacks. In Lenox Hill, the initiative remembers Sanitation worker Andrew Macchio, known for singing during his collections. Macchio spent his free time driving a water truck to clean dust from Ground Zero and would also serenade first responders resting at St. Paul's Chapel.
A road milling crew from Brownsville is also featured for their work driving trucks through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel toward Manhattan. They spent three months clearing debris and repairing streets in the wake of the attacks. The initiative also acknowledges the efforts at Staten Island's Fresh Kills landfill, where city, state, and federal agencies sifted through 1.5 million tons of debris. This operation was one of the largest forensic recovery efforts in American history, dedicating 1.7 million hours to the task.
The "Memory Makers 9/11" project is accessible through a map available at on.nyc.gov/25years, detailing all the stories and profiles of the individuals and groups honored.