September 11th Families Hold Vigil, Marking 25th Anniversary of Attacks

The advocacy group September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows led a solemn rally at Union Square followed by a peace walk and candlelight vigil at ground zero in New York on Thursday. The events mark the solemn lead-up to the 25th anniversary of the tragic September 11 terrorist attacks.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention World Trade Center Health Program indicates that a quarter-century later, more than 145,000 people are still receiving treatment for illnesses tied to the twin towers' collapse. This total includes 57,000 cancer patients, while nearly 10,000 individuals have succumbed to 9/11-related conditions.

"I was devastated, because, to be honest with you, I don’t know if I would have ran in the way I ran in back on 9/11," said retired FDNY paramedic Lt. Conrad Matos, who developed brain cancer after months of recovery work at ground zero without adequate protective equipment.

Founding member Colleen Kelly emphasized that the group's ongoing mission centers on transforming profound personal loss into a constructive force for global nonviolence and diplomacy. "Our mission began as this: September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows is an organization founded by family members of those killed on September 11th who have united to turn our grief into action for peace," stated Kelly.

As politicians, families, and first responders gather at the World Trade Center site for official commemorations, the enduring medical struggles of survivors continue to shape the remembrance of that historic day.