Collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Summary Description English: Taken from the same vantage point, collapse images of the two towers of the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 are compared. Date 11 September 2001 Source Own work; derivative work of the following: by the US Government JohnsonKV DSC 0045.jpg by the US Government by the US Government JohnsonKV DSC 0106.jpg by the US Government Author Superior-wisconsin

11 Sep 2025

A New 9/11 Generation: These children promise to never forget - Firefighters run for the victims

Twenty-four years after the September 11 attacks, a quiet generational shift is unfolding at Ground Zero. At the annual remembrance ceremony in New York City, the voices reading nearly 3,000 names now include children—many born long after the towers fell, yet deeply connected to the legacy of loss.

Ten-year-old Danielle Riches was among those who stood before mourners last year. She recited names of strangers, victims of a tragedy she never witnessed. But her final name was personal: her uncle, Jimmy Riches, a New York City firefighter who died saving others. “Uncle Jimmy, we talk about you all the time,” she said. “I wish I could have met you.”

Danielle is part of a growing group of young readers—children of children who lost parents, nieces and nephews of fallen heroes—who now carry the responsibility to remember. Last year, one-third of the name readers were from this new generation.

Among them was Kylie Corrigan, age 10, who honored her grandfather, James J. Corrigan, a retired fire captain and director of fire safety at the Twin Towers. “We love you so much and we miss you so much,” she said. Her sisters, Keira and Megan, read in earlier years. Their father and uncle both joined the FDNY after the attacks.

Participation in the ceremony is determined by a lottery run by the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Winners receive a list of names and a pronunciation guide—homework that becomes a sacred summer task.

For the Riches family, remembrance is a tradition spanning three generations. Jimmy’s father, Deputy Chief James Riches, and his sons recovered Jimmy’s remains in 2002. Since then, four of Jimmy’s nieces and nephews have read names at the ceremony. This year, it’s Tommy’s turn—Thomas Riches’ 10-year-old son.

“They all want to do it,” said Rita Riches, their grandmother. “He is mentioned in the house all the time. So they feel a connection to him.”

The children know Jimmy as a prankster, a class clown, a bartender in Bay Ridge, and a hero who died at 29, the day before his 30th birthday. They gather after the ceremony at the restaurant where he worked, sharing stories and keeping his memory alive.

“Tomorrow would have been your 52nd birthday,” said Tess, 14, at her reading in 2023. “Even though I never got to meet you, I will never forget you.”

This new generation may not remember the day firsthand, but they are shaping how it is remembered. Their voices echo through the plaza, near the waterfalls that mark the footprints of the towers, reminding the world that memory is not just inherited—it’s chosen, spoken, and carried forward.

As Tommy said, standing beside his father: “We go down to the waterfalls every year. To keep him in our hearts and to never let him go. To never forget him.”

Firefighters Run 34.3 Miles to Honor FDNY Heroes Lost on 9/11

On the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a group of firefighters and their families are lacing up for a powerful tribute: a 34.3-mile run from Long Beach, Long Island to the World Trade Center. The distance symbolizes the 343 FDNY members who died that day—a number sacred to New York’s Bravest.

FDNY firefighter Etan Blatt began the tradition five years ago, carrying a thin red line flag to Ground Zero. What started as a solo mission has grown into the 34.3 Foundation, which now raises funds to support firefighters’ families in times of need.

Among those joining the run is Joe Downey, grandson of legendary FDNY Chief Ray Downey, who died on 9/11. “Part of that responsibility is being there and honouring the sacrifice,” Downey said. “To remind people—never forget.”

By mid-afternoon, the runners will reach the memorial pools at Ground Zero, continuing their mission to honor the fallen and support the living.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License

Description: Collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

English: Taken from the same vantage point, collapse images of the two towers of the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 are compared.

Date: 11 September 2001

Source: Own work; derivative work of the following:

JohnsonKV DSC 0045.jpgby the US Government