Final Goodbyes at NY Ground Zero

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, June 03, 2002

Final Goodbyes at NY Ground Zero

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Hundreds of relatives of people lost on Sept. 11 joined hands at the site of the World Trade Center, New York on 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 above their heads as the ceremony began with bagpipers playing Amazing Grace. Then a woman sang God Bless America amid the muffled sobs of relatives.

The ceremony included the lighting of four candles: one for peace and three to honor rescue workers, the families and the more than 2,800 people who died there.

About 1,100 victims have been identified and nearly 20,000 body parts were recovered during the excavation of the 16-acre site, which ended after more than eight months of round-the-clock work.

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 there Thursday.

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."

Among those who did attend on Sunday were former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Charles Schumer.

The search for human remains will continue at the Staten Island landfill, where 1.8 million tons of debris from the site 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.

Questions?Comments? Click here

WTC Cleanup Nears End

Last Steel Beam at New York WTC Set for Demolition

New York Ceremony Marks End of World Trade Center Cleanup

WTO Entry to Bring China an Annual Increase of 3 Million Employment ( 8 Messages)

Lee Kuan Yew: China to Overtake the US in 2050 ( 132 Messages)

US Taiwan Acts Jeopardize Sino-US Ties: Analysis ( 3 Messages)

Clinton Reaps US$250,000 in 30-Minute Speech in Shenzhen ( 53 Messages)

Miss Russia Wins Miss Universe Title, Miss China Third ( 3 Messages)