Pittsford to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a community remembrance ceremony and vigil of light

Pittsford, New York – The Town of Pittsford will come together Thursday evening to remember the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as the community marks 25 years since the tragedy.

The town’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. at Carpenter Park at the Port of Pittsford, located at 22 North Main Street. Residents and others planning to attend are encouraged to arrive beginning at 7:45 p.m. ahead of the ceremony.

The evening will include remarks from local leaders and a Remembrance Light vigil. Town Supervisor Bill Smith will be joined by local emergency responders and community representatives during the event.

Members of the Pittsford, East Rochester and Brighton fire departments are expected to participate, along with Pittsford Volunteer Ambulance and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Members of the Town, Village and School Boards will also be part of the gathering.

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The ceremony will offer residents a chance to pause and reflect on the people who lost their lives in the attacks, as well as those who responded when the country was facing one of its darkest moments.

The Remembrance Light vigil will be held shortly before the Towers of Light are illuminated. The public is invited to take part in the vigil by using a cellphone or flashlight.

The Towers of Light will consist of two beams projected into the sky. They will serve as a visible tribute to the people who were killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The tribute will also recognize those who rushed toward danger to help others. It will remember people who suffered and died in the aftermath of the attacks, as well as the countless individuals and families whose lives were permanently changed.

This year’s event carries particular significance because it marks a quarter-century since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. September 11 remains a date remembered across the country, with communities holding ceremonies each year to honor those who were lost and recognize the courage of first responders.

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For Pittsford, the gathering will also bring together many of the people who continue to serve the community today. Firefighters, ambulance personnel, law enforcement officers and local officials will stand alongside residents during the ceremony.

Community members who attend are encouraged to participate in the light vigil. A simple cellphone or flashlight can become part of the larger display as the town prepares for the Towers of Light to shine over the community.

The event is expected to provide a quiet opportunity for remembrance while bringing residents together on an important anniversary. The involvement of local first responders also reflects the connection between the September 11 attacks and the many emergency workers who put themselves in danger to protect others.

As Pittsford prepares to mark 25 years since the attacks, the ceremony will focus on remembering lives lost, honoring those who helped and recognizing everyone whose future was changed by the events of that day.

The community’s message remains simple and lasting.

We will never forget.