Published on : 11/09/2020 – 19:49
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The United States commemorates the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, with Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden at the Ground Zero Memorial site in the morning. These ceremonies are, however, limited due to the Covid-19 epidemic, but that did not prevent New Yorkers from paying tribute to the victims of the attacks.
With our correspondent in New York, Loubna Anaki
It is 8:46 am, at the exact time the first plane crashed into one of the Twin Towers, 19 years ago. With a funeral march and minutes of silence, the closed-to-public ceremony drew many New Yorkers to Ground Zero.
« We can never forget said an American. It’s something that will stay with us forever ». « It’s like the death [du président John F] Kennedy, compare another. We all remember where we were, we remember what we were doing, and it still hurts so much. »
Always painful moments especially for those who have lost loved ones or fellow police officers or firefighters. ” For all our brothers in arms who have fallen here, we come every year, explains a man. This moment reminds us all of very hard times. It’s hard, but we keep coming to honor them no matter what. »
« We lost 29 members of our church, says another. People have lost husbands, wives, fathers and mothers : it’s important not to forget ».
This year, the ceremony was reduced to essentials due to the coronavirus epidemic. Vice President Mike Pence along with Joe Biden were present at Ground Zero. President Donald Trump is in Pennsylvania, where another hijacked plane crashed on September 11, 2001.
Here, most hope that the commemorations will not be politicized by the president. « It’s a special day that should belong to the people, families and firefighters and police, opines a New Yorker. Politics there is no place. »
Following the commemorations, the 9/11 memorial will be open to the public for the first time since the start of the epidemic.
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