News: Long Islanders Remember 9/11
(Long Island, N.Y.) More than a thousand people visited Point Lookout for the ten year anniversary of 9/11 where two chrome replicas of the Twin Towers were displayed. Also shown was a beam from the World Trade Center to remind people of what occurred on that fateful day. The event featured flags with white tags for writing messages and the names of those who perished a decade ago.
The beachfront memorial was one of the largest on Long Island. The traditional solemn bagpipes played as many looked on in tears during a very emotional gathering. Reports stated that some of the younger attendees, who were born after the September 11th attacks, still paid their respects to the loved ones they never met.
Sources claimed that many Long Island family members of the terrorist victims visited the newly opened 9/11 memorial site in New York City. The site opened in correlation with the ten year anniversary, and reports stated that only family members were allowed to visit on the opening day. Many family members never visited the site before the event, but claimed that they felt closer to their loved ones while in the area.
The memorial at Ground Zero was fully opened to the public the day after September 11th, 2011. It was estimated that about 1,500 people obtained reserved tickets and were allowed to walk the plaza where the towers once stood. At the center of the memorial stood two giant reflecting pools that displayed waterfalls; many were unaware that tickets were being collected for the anniversary.
Reports also stated that many sporting events featured remembrance introductions with full field-size American flags. Many Long Islanders watched games from their homes which featured special presentations commemorating 9/11. One documentary that aired alongside Sunday Night Football featured a cameraman who followed a newly hired firefighter during the attacks.
Increased security was observed for any Long Islanders entering Manhattan for precautionary measures, as there were some reports of heightened risk of terrorist activity. Sources claimed that authorities had received a credible threat from a terrorist organization. According to reports, K-9 units were trained in order to detect bombs in vehicles, and were deployed on bridges and tunnels with armed guards at train stations.
A fighter jet was used to escort a flight from Los Angeles to New York, and three people were detained due to suspicious activity in the air. The suspects made repeated trips to the bathroom and were absent for prolonged periods of time. Security remained tight even in the days after the 9/11 anniversary, and reports stated that the police presence has been increased while undercovers roam the area.
