Shortly after the city’s annual ceremony at the National September 11th Memorial in Lower Manhattan on Friday morning, the New York State Unified Court System (UCS) will hold its own tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks 25 years ago this Friday.
File photo/Max Parrott
Shortly after the city’s annual ceremony at the National September 11th Memorial in Lower Manhattan on Friday morning, the New York State Unified Court System (UCS) will hold its own tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks 25 years ago this Friday.
The UCS memorial service will take place at the 111 Centre St. courthouse in Lower Manhattan at 1 p.m. on Sept. 11, recognizing in particular three court officers who perished while responding to the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Captain William Harry Thompson and Sergeants Thomas Jurgens and Mitchel Wallace came to the aid of victims at the World Trade Center after hijackers rammed commercial airliners into the Twin Towers. The three court officers were last seen heading into the South Tower moments before its collapse.
Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson will lead the court memorial ceremony this Friday afernoon, and will be joined by other members of the UCS judicial leadership team to pay respects to the fallen. Among the scheduled speakers include First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman George, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Edwina G. Richardson, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for NYC Courts Adam Silvera, New York County Supreme Court-Criminal Term Administrative Judge Ellen Biben, and New York State Courts Department of Public Safety Chief Michael Magliano.
New York County Supreme Court-Criminal Term Chief Clerk Christopher DiSanto will lead guests in a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and Court Officer Jaleesa Copeland will perform the National Anthem.
Friday’s ceremony will also include a musical salute by the New York State Courts Pipes and Drums. After the commemoration, the courts will also hold a viewing of “9/11 Reflections,” an Emmy-nominated video capturing the events of 9/11 through the eyes of other court officers who responded to the attacks.
For more information, visit nycourts.gov.