After the official 9/11 “Tribute in Light” was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tunnel promised Towers Foundation CEO Frank Siller that he would not do so.
Siller, who lost his firefighter brother in the terror attacks, told “Fox & Friends Weekend” the lights will shine brightly as ever, as will the solemn reading of the names of the victims.
GERALDO RIVERA LAMENTEN NYC CANCEL 9/11 LIGHT TRIBUTE: ‘CHILD OF A SURRENDER’
“You know, it broke my heart. It really broke my heart,” he said Saturday after speaking with family members of 9/11 and people across the country who were concerned about canceling the commemorative histories. .
The annual Tribute in Light will appear across Army Manhattan on September 11, 2017, shown from Jersey City, NJ (Photo by Gary Hershorn / Getty Images)
“I had one retired firefighter who was on the phone breaking down who could not believe they were doing it,” Siller recalls. “We said, ‘Wait, wait, wait. Tunnel to Towers, we have this.’ We will do it … We will make sure that those two big beautiful tree lights, which deserve the loss on 9/11, will shine at Ground Zero this year. “
According to museum officials, Tribute in Light was canceled this year because officials feared the virus could spread among the 40 stages and electricians who set up the display, The Wall Street Journal reported.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCES $ 2M BEFORE SEPT. 11 MEMORIAL IN NYC
But Siller said it was “not that difficult,” noting that construction has continued since Phase Two of the coronavirus recovery plans, which have already been passed.
Tunnels to Towers hires electricians from Broadway, who are out of work, and others who have worked on the project in previous years to place the twin trees of light that shine four miles high.
“It’s not that hard to keep them [workers] safe, “said Siller. That’s why I do not know what’s going on. “
“All I know is that the Tunnel to Towers Foundation wants to make sure we never forget the sacrifice that was made on September 11 and the loss of life,” he said. “That’s what our responsibility is. Therefore, we will make sure we read those names live on Sept. 11.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Reading his organization’s names, including family members wishing to participate, will take place on the streets of Liberty and Church, the site of the World Trade Center, where the event was held before the 9/11 Memorial was.
“We were able to march literally hundreds of thousands of people in March because of the protests,” Siller said. “They are so overwhelmed about this. We will not do it. We will make sure we shine those lights so that everyone, not just in New York, can see them, but in this country and remember those who perished.”
