Westchester County families can commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks at several local memorial events. Read on for details.
It’s hard to believe 10 years have passed since the events of September 11, 2001. Whether or not your children are old enough to remember that day, many have been hearing about it for years, and are curious to understand why and how the event reshaped us all, personally and culturally. Below are a number of events taking place locally this month that may help to explain the significance of this anniversary to our children, or if not, will honor our memories of the day in small ways.
Westchester County executive Robert P. Astorino will be speaking at a public 6pm Twilight Ceremony at The Rising, the county’s memorial to 9/11 at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla (details were not finalized at press time). A visit to The Rising can be combined with a family outing to walk, picnic, or bike around the wide-open expanse of the park. Situated in the eastern corner of the plaza, the memorial is an 80-foot-high stainless steel sculpture containing 10,000 linear feet of steel and 109 intertwining steel rods (one for each of the 109 Westchester residents killed in the tragedies of September 11), all rising skyward. At the base is a Circle of Remembrance that includes the names of those who died, along with quotes from their loved ones.
Wave Hill, the public garden and cultural center in Riverdale overlooking the Hudson River, will hold two family events that artistically observe the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Guest artist Randy Brozen will lead a Family Art Project – Paper Circles for Remembrance and Renewal workshop. Family members will make their own paper and shape it as a circle to reflect the changing seasons and cycles of life, then grace their circles with a yarn-loop hanger, or seeds to grow later. 10am-1pm. Later, visitors are invited to inscribe or illustrate strips of natural-fiber paper with personal reflections on the anniversary for a Wind Elegy. The many flag-strips will be affixed to the pergola to flutter gently in the breeze. At week’s end, the papers will be composted to rest in the garden. 12-4pm. FREE. Wave Hill, 675 West 252nd Street, Bronx.
And for those who want to witness some of the finest examples of human strength and endurance, the 2011 TOUGHman Triathlon will take place at Croton Point Park, in Croton-on-Hudson. The event includes a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run. A portion of every entry will be donated to the Croton-Buchanan-Cortlandt 9/11 Memorial fund, to erect a memorial including a piece of steel from the Twin Towers at Croton Landing to commemorate those lost. Additionally, all race participants will be asked to sign a flag containing the names of the deceased from Westchester County, which will be presented to the town after the race. Race begins at 6:40am. Spectators, volunteers, and entrants can get more information at www.toughmantri.com.
For those interested in volunteering, or seeking worthwhile organizations where teens can get community service credit, Westchester County and The Volunteer Center of United Way are hosting a volunteer expo on September 9 to match volunteers with agencies that need their help. Serve & Learn – Westchester Remembers 9/11 is part of a National Day of Service and Remembrance, a community-wide call to action. A similar event in 2009 drew almost 1,000 volunteers, who were matched with the participating agencies. The 2011 expo will be held from 10am-6pm at the Westchester County Center, 198 Central Park Avenue, White Plains. Call 914-948-4452 for more information, or visit www.volunteer-center.org.
Also see: How to Talk to Your Kids About 9/11
Why It’s Important to Volunteer with Your Kids
Where to Volunteer with Kids in the NYC Area
