Remembering 9/11 Amid Coronavirus: Services In St. Petersburg
ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Over the years, the nation has come together at ceremonies in St. Petersburg and other U.S. communities to commemorate the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
However, as the 19th anniversary of the attacks arrives, ceremonies are likely to look different.
To date, more than 6 million Americans have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting community leaders to put in place extra precautions and enhanced safety measures at these annual events. While some communities are moving events online, others are canceling events out of an abundance of caution.
St. Pete is one of many communities planning 9/11 ceremonies amid the pandemic.
St. Pete
Remember, Honor, Support, Inc. and the Tampa Bay Rays are holding a 9/11 memorial service on Friday, Sept. 11 called "RHS & Rays 9/11 Patriot Social Distancing Memorial Day." The service commemorating the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks begins at 8:30 a.m. in parking lot 7 at the Tropicana Field. Social distancing is required and attendees are encouraged to bring your own chairs, and don't forget your masks. RHS asks that you RSVP, so they can have enough coffee provided. Seating is limited.
"Look Up," is the inaugural St. Pete light tribute to all those lost and affected by 9/11. Two large lights that represent the Twin Towers will shine across the downtown St. Pete sky from 9:11 p.m. to midnight. Realty One Group Sunshine and Startup Street are the presenters of this 9/11 commemoration. Startup Street will have a live stream of the lights on its Facebook page.
Services held at 9/11 attack sites will also look different this year because of the pandemic. Some have already faced a series of hurdles to go on as planned.
In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to send state health personnel to New York City to provide supervision during the annual "Tribute in Light" ceremony, a commemoration of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Cuomo said staff will be on hand to “ensure this year's tribute is held safely.”
Cuomo's announcement came just days after 9/11 Memorial & Museum officials had nixed the 2020 tribute due to coronavirus concerns.
Now, the focus of the New York City commemoration will be reading the names of victims. Family members will not read the names in person this year; instead, recorded readings from the museum’s In Memoriam exhibition will be used for the ceremony.
In Arlington County, Virginia, located just outside Washington, D.C., the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial remains closed to visitors because of COVID-19 restrictions. Arlington County typically holds an annual remembrance ceremony, which this year will be held virtually. Specific plans for this year’s service will be released the week of Sept. 11, according to county spokesperson Erika Moore.
In Pennsylvania, the National Park Service will hold an abbreviated ceremony at Shanksville. The 20-minute “Moment of Remembrance” is set to begin at 9:45 a.m., without a keynote speaker or musical guests.
The names of each passenger and crew member from Flight 93 will be read aloud with the ringing of the “Bells of Remembrance,” according to the agency’s website.
Both President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden plan to visit Shanksville on Friday. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, will attend Sept. 11 memorial ceremonies in New York this year.
This article originally appeared on the St. Pete Patch
