Ways to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum marks the sites of the Twin Towers with 2 reflective pools.

By Erik Torkells

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Lower Manhattan site will be closed on September 11 for a remembrance with elected officials — including President Obama and former President George W. Bush — and family members of people who died in the attacks. The National September 11 Memorial, meanwhile, opens to the public on Sept. 12 (you have to reserve a pass); with the museum to follow at a later date. Leading up to September 11, however, many institutions around town will be marking the anniversary.

A group called New York Neighbors for American Values has created a master calendar of 9/11-related events, which travelers may wantto check out. A few of note:

Hand in Hand—Remembering 9/11
On Sept. 10, people will join hands along the waterfront in Lower Manhattan. Advance registration is required.

Remembering 9/11 Photo Exhibition
From Sept. 8 through April 12, 2012, the New York Historical Society will host a free exhibit of photographs taken after the attacks on the World Trade Center.

9/11 Peace Story Quilt
From Aug. 30 to Jan. 22, 2012, a quilt inspired by the Peace Book of New York City students’ “peace images” will be displayed for free at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

White Ribbons at St. Paul’s Chapel
From From Sept.5-11, people are encouraged to tie a white ribbon with “Remember to Love” on it (along with anything you’d like to write) to the fence outside St. Paul’s Chapel, part of the Trinity Wall Street church.

Not on the master calendar yet, but worth remembering:Tribute in Light
In April 2002, the Municipal Art Society and Creative Time spearheaded a deeply moving art project: two beams of light shooting up from near the site of the Twin Towers. Since then, the Tribute in Light has been reinstalled every September 11. You can see it from all over, but if the weather holds, views of it from tall buildings uptown — such as Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building — are particularly exquisite. Also, don’t be surprised if you see it getting tested before September 11.

New York hotels near the Memorial

Formerly the editor of Budget Travel magazine, Erik Torkells has written for many other publications, including Travel + Leisure, the New York Times and T Magazine. He has appeared on MSNBC and “Good Morning America” on Orbitz’s behalf.

Tagged: New York