New Port Authority Memorial Dedicated at World Trade Center Ahead of 25th 9/11 Anniversary
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New York NY, Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, alongside the World Trade Center Memorial Fund, has unveiled a new memorial sculpture at the World Trade Center campus.
Located in Liberty Park adjacent to the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine—just steps from the agency’s headquarters at 4 World Trade Center—the Port Authority Employee Memorial offers a quiet space of reflection to honor nearly 90 agency public servants lost in the line of duty, as well as those affected by 9/11-related illnesses.
Honoring Sacrifice Across Decades
The newly dedicated monument honors Port Authority personnel who perished across multiple pivotal moments in history:
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September 11, 2001: Honors 84 agency employees, including 37 members of the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) and 13 civilian staff members recognized as first responders for utilizing their deep knowledge of the complex to rescue others.
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February 26, 1993: Honors four Port Authority employees and two civilians lost during the subterranean parking garage bombing at the Twin Towers.
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Rescue & Recovery Illnesses: Recognizes past, present, and future employees who have suffered or passed away from 9/11-related health conditions resulting from clean-up and rescue operations through May 2002.
Symbolic Design Features
Commissioned by the non-profit WTC Memorial Fund, the monument’s architecture draws deeply from historical symbolism:
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8-Foot Stainless Steel Twin Towers: Features a porcelain enamel-coated steel American flag embossed on the front, echoing a symbol of resilience created by a Port Authority sign shop employee during the 2001 recovery efforts.
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Black Granite Base: Standing 2 feet tall, this base is inscribed with the names of the 84 Port Authority employees who died on 9/11.
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Rose Granite Ring: Surrounds the base in a design inspired by the original 1993 memorial destroyed on Austin J. Tobin Plaza when the towers fell, bearing the names of those lost in the 1993 bombing.
Leadership Reflections on Remembrance
State leaders and agency officials gathered to speak on the significance of the new monument:
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul: “As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, all of New York continues to mourn the 84 Port Authority public servants who lost their lives that day as well as the six who lost their lives in 1993. This memorial is a fitting tribute.”
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New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill: “The Port Authority employees honored in this memorial showed extraordinary courage in the face of the worst attacks on our nation, and paid the ultimate price for their service.”
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Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole: “Our agency’s home at 4 World Trade Center faces Liberty Park, so it is fitting to have a space nearby for our Port Authority family to remember their fallen colleagues.”
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Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia: “As the anniversary years tick up, the number of our colleagues who survived both the 1993 and 2001 attacks are starting to dwindle, so we must work harder to keep those memories from fading.”
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WTC Memorial Fund President Paul Iannacone: “For those of us who worked at the World Trade Center, it was more than a workplace—it was our home… This memorial is a lasting tribute to those we lost.”
Bridging the Generational Gap
With approximately 400 of the Port Authority’s 8,000 current employees having served with the agency on 9/11, newer initiatives—such as the Pillars of the Port Authority employee awards and annual September volunteer programs led by Leadership Fellows—continue to pass down the legacy of service to younger generations of public servants.
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Tags: World Trade Center, Port Authority, 9/11 Anniversary, Liberty Park, NYC News, New Jersey News, World Trade Center Health Program, Public Servants.
