#911 #memorial
I don’t know what it was but for the first time since the attacks on 9/11/01, I was compelled to get up early on Sunday morning and sit an watch the reading of the endless list of names of those killed in the attacks.  A reading of the names of the victims by family members, friends, first responders and government officials has become a tradition ever year.  But much debate has brewed over whether now that the memorial has been finished and a final resting place of sorts has been established if its time to discontinue that tradition.

Mayor Bloomberg today said in a radio address that the 9/11 memorial foundation intends to survey family members of the victims and first responders to get their feelings about making changes to the solemn ceremony and discontinuing the tradition.

“Some people have said we should go on forever,” said the mayor. “Some people have said change is good. The subject’s come up a couple of times. I think we’ve said the foundation board will talk about this.“

I for one believe in healthy mourning but as I watched some of the victims families this weekend weep and relive that fateful day I wonder just how healthy this is for their ability to move on.  We obviously will never forget what happened and those lost, they’re permanently remembered in that memorial but we need to begin the healing process.  Whether that means we stop reading the names or not I don’t know.  I also feel the memorial is incomplete.  As we’re learning there are a lot of first responders that have since become victims of the 9/11 tragedy that are not included in the memorial.  What about our servicemen and women who lost their lives as a result of hunting down those responsible?  Why are not their names read?  It was a tragic day for us all but its important for us to move forward and heal.  SOUND OFF:  Is it time we discontinue the reading of the names on 9/11?