In August, the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation changed its name to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center in order to more fully reflect the Memorial & Museum’s commemoration of the September 11, 2001 attacks as a national tragedy that changed the course of history. The mission of the Memorial & Museum has always been to honor those killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in New York City, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon, as well as those killed in the World Trade Center bombing on February 26, 1993, and the new name is in keeping with this mission. Since the Memorial & Museum is being built at the very site of the attacks, the project will continue to emphasize the site-specific nature of building at the World Trade Center.
The upcoming anniversary is a time for remembrance and reflection, and the entire staff at the Memorial & Museum extends their condolences during this difficult period to those who lost loved ones. The Memorial & Museum fully understand that the responsibility to build this tribute is a solemn one and that it extends to the family and friends of those whose loved ones were killed, to those who survived, and to the millions of Americans and those from around the world who will come here to pay their respects and to learn about what happened on September 11, 2001, and in the aftermath.
In April, fundraising for the Memorial & Museum surpassed the $300 million milestone in the $350 million private fundraising campaign. Over 33,000 donations from donors in all 50 states and 27 foreign countries contributed to this fundraising total. It is heartening to see the rising number of contributors to this project because one of the goals of this campaign is to ensure national participation in the effort to build the Memorial & Museum. The attacks of September 11 impacted all Americans and people across the country are helping to build this national tribute as part of the collective response to the attacks. As the national outreach efforts commence, work continues here in New York.
Construction is moving forward and the Memorial & Museum is on track to complete the footings that will hold up the Memorial, Museum, and Plaza. Once the footings are complete, steel will be erected at the site and next year, the structure of the Memorial will begin to take shape.
Meanwhile, the Museum staff continues their hard work envisioning the Memorial Museum and building a permanent collection of artifacts and oral testimonies to honor those killed and bear witness to the attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. The remarkable artifacts, photographs, documents, and memorabilia contributed to the growing collection serve as a rich resource for future exhibitions, the planned educational resource center, and informative public programming.
The collections preserved through the Museum provide an immediate connection to the stories the Museum will tell, and to the people behind those stories. Please visit www.national911memorial.org/memorial_home to learn more about the vision for the Memorial Museum, to view recent acquisitions and to listen to the podcast series. Sixth anniversary programming this year includes the September 11th tribute exhibition; an update from Museum representatives at the Voices of September 11th Preserving 9/11 forum on September 10th at 3:45pm; an open house for family members at the Memorial & Museum offices on September 11th; and a panel co-sponsored by Trinity Church discussing The Future of September 11th: The View from New York on September 27th at 7pm at St. Paul’s Chapel.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum invites family members to register at www.national911memorial.org/familyinfo. Family members can also contact Madeleine Blot at (212) 312-8852 or mblot@sept11mm.org with any questions.
