Tribute in Light

Every year on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a pair of parallel beams called Tribute in Light permeates New York’s night sky. Tribute in Light has been described in several ways that qualify it for a blog on NYC firsts: “the first official, albeit temporary, memorial at Ground Zero” (a blog), “the first major physical memorial at the World Trade Center site” (Wikipedia), “the first project of its kind to simply light air” (PBS). On this twenty-third anniversary of the terrorist attacks, we focus on the memorial and recall its history.

Just days after the attack, several artists, architects, and lighting designers independently came up with the idea to create a memorial in light. The light would rise into the sky, towering over other structures, just as the Twin Towers did. The creative talent came together with the help of several nonprofit organizations and corporate entities.

The memorial debuted on March 11, 2002, marking the six-month anniversary of the attacks. It remained lit for five weeks. Since then, Tribute in Light has appeared annually on September 11, shining from dusk that night to dawn the next morning.

Initially, the beacons originated in a vacant lot across from Ground Zero. Now they rise from eighty-eight spotlights positioned in two squares on the roof of a nearby parking garage. The beams stretch about four miles into the sky. On a clear night, the light is visible in the entire tri-state area.

Tribute in Light is a memorial to the almost 3,000 men and women who died on September 11, 2001. It also honors the first responders and those who worked on the pile in a desperate search for survivors and the remains of those who died. The beams symbolize the spirit that enabled New York City to move forward despite the tragedy.

Every September 11 night, I look for the beacons from my apartment about eight miles away. I remember that awful day twenty-three years ago and the surreal weeks that followed. I hope we never see such an event again.