The Tribute in Light rises above buildings in lower Manhattan during a test for today's ceremony. Photo / AP
When this year's September 11 anniversary ceremony unfolds at ground zero today, the mayor who has helped orchestrate the observances from their start will be watching for his last time in office. And saying nothing.
Over his years as mayor and chairman of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum,
Michael Bloomberg has sometimes tangled with victims' relatives, religious leaders and other elected officials over an event steeped in symbolism and emotion.
But his administration has largely succeeded in its goal of keeping the commemoration focused on the attacks' victims and their families and relatively free of political image-making. In that spirit, no politicians, including the Mayor, were allowed to speak last year or will be this year.
Memorial organisers expect to take primary responsibility for the ceremony next year and say they plan to continue concentrating the event on victims' loved ones, even as the forthcoming museum creates a new, broader framework for remembering 9/11.
"As things evolve in the future, the focus on the remembrance is going to stay sacrosanct," memorial President Joe Daniels says.
