The annual ceremony at Ground Zero will feature, for the first time, a seventh minute of silence to honor the thousands of first responders and survivors who died from illnesses caused by the toxic dust released during September 11.
This new minute of silence specifically honors the firefighters, police officers, medical teams and civilians who developed pathologies related to the inhalation of fumes and debris from the World Trade Center.
Nearly 25 years after the attacks, the number of deaths associated with these illnesses has already exceeded the number of victims of the September 11 attacks themselves.
The decision to include this seventh minute of silence reflects the growing public awareness of the prolonged and devastating impact of the health conditions created by exposure to toxins at the World Trade Center site.
