Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, in partnership with the Supreme Court of Bronx County and Con Edison, hosted the annual 9/11 Day of Remembrance Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 12, at Lou Gehrig Plaza.

The ceremony brought together elected officials, members of the judiciary, law enforcement, community leaders, families, and Bronx residents to honor the victims of the September 11th attacks 24 years later, and reflect on what was described as “the continued resilience of New Yorkers.”

The program featured opening remarks from Gary Axelbank, host of BronxTalk and the Bronx Buzz on BronxNet, who served as emcee. His remarks were followed by a presentation of colors by the New York State Courts Ceremonial Unit and Pipes & Drum, a musical selection by students from Dream Yard Preparatory School, and interfaith prayers offered by clergy representing multiple faith traditions.

The borough president later delivered remarks along with the Hon. Joseph E. Capella; administrative judge for the Bronx Supreme Court, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, and representatives from the NYPD and FDNY.

“Today, we join together as a borough to honor the lives lost on September 11th and to uplift the families, survivors, and first responders who continue to carry that pain with them every day,” said Gibson in part.

“Twenty-four years later, we remain committed to remembering their sacrifice, celebrating the resilience of our city, and standing united as a community. We will never forget, and we will always honor their legacy through strength, compassion, and courage,” she added.

The ceremony concluded with another musical tribute by students from Dream Yard Preparatory School, a rendition of Halfway to Heaven was performed by Sid Cherry, followed by the solemn reading of the names of Bronx residents who died on September 11th, 2001.

According to the Office of the Bronx Borough President, the event and program offered a moment of healing and reflection, ensuring that the lives lost are not forgotten and that their stories are carried forward.

According to the FBI, the attacks were the most lethal terrorist attacks in history, taking the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans and international citizens and ultimately leading to far-reaching changes in anti-terror approaches and operations in the U.S. and around the globe.

Also, according to the FBI, more than 4,000 special agents and 3,000 professional employees helped in the recovery and subsequent investigation of the 9/11 attacks, which agency officials said challenged it to deploy its assets efficiently and in innovative ways.

 

They said all FBI headquarters divisions, field offices, and nearly every unit at the FBI laboratory contributed, and those efforts included the following:

 

In New York, more than 1,000 FBI employees from 55 of the 56 field offices worked to recover victims, evidence, and personal belongings. At the Pentagon, 155 FBI employees from eight field offices recovered evidence.

 

In Pennsylvania, 152 FBI employees from eight field offices recovered evidence. Special agents and personnel in at least 30 of the FBI’s foreign offices tracked down leads and worked with international partners.

The FBI responded to more than 500,000 investigative leads. Special agents conducted more than 167,000 interviews. The FBI collected and processed more than 150,000 pieces of evidence.

 

Photographers took more than 170,000 pictures. Computer experts examined more than 35 terabytes of data in the first 30 days of the investigation alone. More than 70 agents and professional staff worked on the core investigative team.

 

Scores of FBI Laboratory personnel helped identify victims and hijackers through DNA. Dozens of document experts reviewed more than 1,600 small or damaged pieces of paper.

 

Dozens of fingerprint examiners received more than 3,800 pieces of evidence and conducted more than 126,600 comparisons. Five FBI cadaver dogs worked at the Pentagon. Highly skilled FBI artists developed models of the sites and produced dozens of graphics.

Furthermore, hazardous materials specialists from numerous field offices worked the three sites. Explosives experts examined plane wreckage and building debris for evidence of bombs.

 

FBI pilots transported teams, equipment, and specialists to different locations. Technical specialists restored the New York Field Office’s computer and phone systems and provided emergency communication systems in Virginia and Pennsylvania.

 

FBI SWAT teams provided security at all three sites, and Hostage Rescue Teams evaluated security at several locations. Specialists helped recover audio and data from cockpit voice and flight data recorders and analyzed other audio and video recordings.

 

The FBI’s Office for Victim Assistance (now the Victim Services Division) was created to serve thousands of victims and their families.

 

Meanwhile, a recent documentary by TMZ has uncovered new details of a potential fifth plane that was possibly targeted also on 9/11.