What you should know
- LinkNYC kiosks will display dozens of geolocated stories, from the Midtown warehouse that became an Emergency Operations Center to Fresh Kills, where 1.5 million tons of debris were processed by hand
NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today launched Memory Markers: 9/11, a citywide digital tribute using LinkNYC kiosks to share dozens of geolocated stories of New Yorkers who came together to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts following the horrific terror attacks of September 11, 2001.
The project turns the City’s streets into a walking tribute to the heroism, sacrifice and selflessness that defined New York in the days, weeks and months after the attacks — from a warehouse in Midtown to a lobby on Worth Street and on a ferry crossing the harbor.
A map of the Memory Markers is available at on.nyc.gov/25years, along with additional stories and profiles honoring both the heroes we lost and the heroes who remain.
“In the days, weeks and months after the horrific terror attacks of September 11, 2001, New Yorkers came together in ways big and small to help our city recover,” said Mayor Mamdani. “A sanitation worker sang for first responders resting after a long day at Ground Zero. Environmental workers cleaned rooftops and building facades, block by block. More than 1,000 taxi drivers gave rescue workers free rides home, day after day. These acts of service and sacrifice are part of the story of 9/11, too. We recovered together then, and we will remember together now – by telling the stories of the everyday heroes we lost, honoring the heroes who remain and recognizing that 9/11 was a day that never ended, with consequences that continue to shape us today.”
“For the FDNY, September 11 was a day that didn’t end. The heroism and courage displayed by our members that day continues to inform our Department, and teaching the public about that is critically important to our mission of Never Forgetting,” said Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.
“Twenty-five years ago, New York City was attacked by terrorists who sought to inflict unimaginable death and destruction,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Twenty-three members of the NYPD were killed at the World Trade Center that morning. Thousands more joined the rescue and recovery effort that followed, working for days, weeks and months amid burning rubble and toxic debris — an extraordinary display of heroism that continued long after the attacks themselves. With this digital tribute, we are fulfilling the promise to never forget the heroes of this department and all those who answered the call.”
“What happened on September 11 was felt in every neighborhood of this city, and the work that followed was carried out in all of them,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. “At Pier 92, the City built a makeshift Emergency Operations Center after the original one was destroyed in the collapse of 7 World Trade Center. Twenty-five years later, many New Yorkers may pass these places without knowing. Memory Markers tells them what happened on those corners and what it took to respond.”
“More than 3,700 New York Department of Sanitation employees worked for months on and after 9/11 to heal our City, clearing dust, debris and rubble from lower Manhattan and managing Ground Zero debris at Fresh Kills on Staten Island,” said Sanitation Commissioner Gregory Anderson. “Theirs are just some of the infinite number of heroic stories of that day and its aftermath, and we are proud to be represented alongside so many other heroes in this digital tribute.”
“Participating in this campaign is another small step towards healing on this, the 25th anniversary of such a tragic event that impacted so many lives in our great city,” said Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Paul Ochoa. “DDC retains its immense pride in the agency's management of the cleanup effort, and we fondly remember those colleagues who worked at Ground Zero but are no longer with us. The stories featuring Ron Vega and Mike Kenny represent all of us and we thank them and all of the first responders on this solemn day.”
“Twenty-five years later we remain very proud of NYC DOT’s efforts on that unforgettable and tragic day when our vessels and vehicles immediately became part of the response effort,” said NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn. “Whether it was our Staten Island Ferry fleet moving 50,000 people from Manhattan or our Roadways asphalt trucks removing debris from Ground Zero, NYC DOT was on the front lines aiding and assisting our fellow New Yorkers.”
“The stories of how New Yorkers showed up for one another in the aftermath of September 11 remain a powerful part of our city’s history,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “Our parks and public spaces became places of refuge, gathering, service and remembrance. Memorials across our parks ensure that the lives lost and the stories of those who helped carry our city through its darkest days are never forgotten. This tribute brings those stories into the streets where New Yorkers live, work and gather, so that the courage and compassion they represent continue to be seen and shared for generations to come.”
“In this city, public servants have always understood that when New Yorkers are in need, you show up,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “You go the extra mile, stand beside your neighbors and do whatever it takes to help others through the most difficult times. We saw that spirit in its most profound form in the aftermath of September 11, when New Yorkers from every corner of our city came together to serve and support one another. Those acts of courage and compassion are part of the fabric of who we are as New Yorkers. It is our responsibility to tell the unique stories of the public servants who answered that call, to honor the sacrifices they made and to make sure we never forget what they did for our city and for one another.”
“The stories of New York City’s first responders are as important today as they have been over these 25 years,” said NYC Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards. “The testimonies of these heroes will be a source of inspiration and comfort once again as we reflect on how that day affected all of us.”
“Twenty-five years later, the stories of courage, compassion and resilience that emerged from 9/11 still have the power to connect New Yorkers,” said Nick Colvin, CEO of LinkNYC. “With a network spanning all five boroughs, LinkNYC is proud to bring these stories directly to the communities where they unfolded, using today’s technology to engage our neighbors with our shared history and the extraordinary spirit of our city.”
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