September 11, 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center, which has had a profound effect not only on our nation, but on the Rockaway community. For the past 20 years, the Friends of Tribute Park has worked with the New York City Parks Department to ensure that the park on the bayside of Beach 116th Street has been maintained as a peaceful place for remembrance and reflection.
Throughout the year, people come to Tribute Park to reflect, pray, remember, and feel peace and solitude, even as they are pained by the remembrance of that horrific event and the sorrow for all of those who died.
During the summer, there are more visitors. Some come to enjoy the beauty of the park, but many are drawn there because with summer comes the awareness of another 9/11/01 anniversary coming soon.
As we have in the past, the Friends of Tribute Park will organize and host a meaningful ceremony this September 11 to remember those we lost on that day. The ceremony will include a color guard procession, raising and lowering of the flag, a reading of the names, placing of roses by family and community members, and moving music performed by Aerial Acoustics. Each year, members of the community, family members of those who have fallen, firefighters and police officers, elected officials, and representatives of numerous government agencies attend.
Following the ceremony, a stream of visitors come to the park throughout the day and silently contemplate their respect for the souls lost that day. Those visits continue through the night, with people gazing out over the bay to the bright lights over what was Ground Zero.
We hope this article serves as a reminder to all about this special place people can visit in solemn remembrance of those who came before us.
On behalf of the Friends of Tribute Park, we would like to thank all those who continue to visit this hallowed place. We encourage those who may not have been there yet to consider taking the time to do so.
We also express our deepest gratitude to our donors, elected officials, local businesses and volunteers who have supported the park over the years.
– Friends of Tribute Park
Kevin O’Mealy, President; Joe Fox, John Lepore, Dan Mundy, Nadia Murphy, Dolores Orr, Richard Santaga, and Tara Stackpole
