The New York City Council will spend $1 million to fund free trips for NYC public school groups to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced Thursday.
With increasing numbers of children growing up with little or no knowledge of the Sept. 11 attacks, Menin said New Yorkers must work to keep alive the memory of the victims and the heroes who tried to save them.
“As we approach the 25th anniversary of September 11, it is more important than ever that a new generation of New Yorkers understands what happened that day,” Menin said in a statement. “Through this funding, we honor the lives lost and celebrate the New Yorkers who made profound sacrifices in the face of terror.”
The council speaker noted that more than 100 million Americans were born after Sept. 11, 2001 or were too young to know much about what happened.
“Let’s work together to ensure that ‘Never Forget’ remains a promise passed from one generation to the next,” she said.
Menin, who credits her experience on 9/11 and the aftermath with inspiring her to enter public service, is expected to appear at the memorial Thursday along with fellow councilmembers to announce the new program.
The money will fund various types of experiences for public school students at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, including in-person guided and self-guided group tours along with virtual field trips. It will also support additional in-class student and teacher programming at participating schools.
The program will target eighth graders.
Beth Hillman, CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, said telling the truth about the events of Sept. 11, 2001 to New Yorkers is a bedrock part of the institution’s enduring mission.
“We commemorate the 2,977 individuals killed on 9/11, educate the next generation on what happened, and inspire visitors with stories of service and heroism,” Hillman said.