Memorial At Ground Zero
Hundreds of relatives of people lost on Sept. 11 joined hands at ground zero Sunday as those hit hardest by terrorism sought solace at an interfaith memorial ceremony marking the end of the recovery effort.
Family members hoisted pictures of their loved ones in the air as the ceremony began with bagpipers playing "Amazing Grace."
During the hour-long ceremony in lower Manhattan, four widows lit one candle each, one for those killed, one for their families, one for peace and one for the rescuers, volunteers and workers who cleaned up the 16-acre — site in just under nine months.
"The light represents the everlasting love that we will carry for you always," said Nicole Petrocelli, one of the organizers of the event, who lit the candle for the victims. "The pain of losing you is truly unbearable."
Her husband, Mark, was among the 2,823 people from scores of countries killed in the attack. Almost 1,800 of the victims have not been identified among the human remains separated from almost 2 billion tons of crushed concrete, twisted steel, glass and other materials destroyed by the passenger planes used as missiles by Islamic militants.
"My niece is here forever," said William Healey, whose niece Renee Newell, was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, which was flown into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
Speaking before the ceremony, Healey said, "It doesn't seem like it's the last day to me."
"Most of these families haven't even found the remains of their loved ones," said Dennis McKeon, director of the St. Clare's Church WTC Outreach program, which organized Sunday's ceremony. "Starting next week, this is going to be a construction site, so this is their last chance to say goodbye."
About 1,100 victims have been identified and nearly 20,000 body parts were recovered during the excavation of the 16-acre site.
On Thursday, thousands of people attended a service organized by the city to mark the end of the cleanup at the site and to honor the rescue workers. An empty, flag-draped stretcher symbolizing the victims whose remains have not been recovered was carried out of the pit, followed by the trade center's last steel beam, draped in black cloth and a flag.
Some victims' relatives had criticized Mayor Michael Bloomberg for not holding the service on a weekend, when they said it would be easier for families to attend. Sunday's ceremony was planned for family members who weren't able to be at Thursday's ceremony.
The mayor said he chose a weekday because he did not want the service to interfere with religious observances. He said he wouldn't attend Sunday's service because he didn't "want to politicize anything."
The search for body parts will continue at the Staten Island landfill, where 1.8 million tons of debris were taken by trucks and barges, city officials said. Remains not identified will be kept until science advances makes further identification possible.
The cleanup finished more than three months earlier than expected and, at less than $750 million, at a fraction of the estimated cost.