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September 11, 2020
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A r u b a ’ s O N L Y E n g l i s h n e w s p a p e r
9-1-1 TRIBUTE

In a year of social distancing, virus alters Sept. 11, too

In this Sept. 11, 2017, file photo, the Tribute in Light illuminates in the sky above the Lower Manhattan area of New York, as seen from across the Hudson River in Jersey
City, N.J.
Associated Press

By JENNIFER PELTZ York, while President Don- ground zero observance listening to a recording. March because health is-
Associated Press ald Trump and Democratic had to change in a year Memorial leaders said they sues make her especially
NEW YORK (AP) — In a challenger Joe Biden plan when so much else has. wanted to avoid close worried about the virus. But
year when the coronavirus to attend a truncated cer- Others fear the pandemic contact among readers, she is determined to go in
pandemic has reshaped emony at the Flight 93 Na- is making plain what they who are usually paired at honor of her son John, a
countless American rituals, tional Memorial in Pennsyl- have feared was happen- the podium. But to Riches, bond trader, her daughter
even the commemoration vania. ing unspoken: that the a retired fire battalion chief said.
of 9/11 could not escape In New York, the double commitment to "Never For- and frequent critic of the In a year when many
unchanged. beams of light that evoke get" is fading. memorial organization, the events have been called
The 19th anniversary of the fallen twin towers were "It's another smack in the decision sounds like an ex- off, "this wasn't canceled.
the terror attacks will be nearly canceled in the face," says Jim Riches, who cuse for sidelining the fami- It's just been changed in
marked by dueling cere- name of virus safety, until lost his son Jimmy, a fire- lies' role in commemorating such a way where we still
monies at the Sept. 11 me- an uproar restored the trib- fighter. 9/11. get to pay tribute to our
morial plaza and a corner ute. The Fire Department The father is staying home "I wish they wouldn't forget, loved ones in a respectful
near the World Trade Cent- has cited the virus in urg- on the anniversary for the but they're trying to," he and safe way," said Katsi-
er, reflecting a divide over ing members to stay away first time this year because says. matides, who's on the me-
the memorial's decision to from any observances he doesn't want to take But Anthoula Katsimatides morial board. She says the
suspend a cherished tra- of the 2001 attacks that chances with the corona- sees the differences this change wasn't motivated
dition of relatives reading killed nearly 3,000 people, virus after a prior illness. But year as an effort to en- by anything except a pub-
victims' names in person. among them almost 350 he feels others should have sure victims' relatives feel lic health emergency.
Vice President Mike Pence firefighters. the option of reciting the comfortable attending
is expected at both those Some victims' relatives names of the dead on the — including her mother,
remembrances in New say they understand the memorial plaza, instead of who hasn't left home since Continued on Page 2