Time Capsule Honors the Fallen

Twenty-five years from now — when no one under the age of 40 has personal memories of the tragedy that befell America on September 11, 2001 — a time capsule is to be opened in a Long Island park to remind young and old of the responders who lost their lives in the aftermath.

Supporters of the effort gathered in May 2013 at 9/11 Responders Remembered Park in Nesconset, Long Island, to bury a time capsule containing artifacts and mementos donated by family, friends and supporters of fallen 9/11 responders. Marked by a headstone, the capsule contains:

• The wedding ring of a responder, donated by his widow
• Handwritten letters and photos of the fallen
• CDs and flash drives telling their stories
• Documents commemorating the construction of the park

Established in 2011 and dedicated exclusively to the memories of those stricken by 9/11-related illnesses as a result of their rescue and recovery work, the park houses a memorial wall inscribed with names of those who have died in the years following the terrorist attacks. This year, 37 more names were added to the wall, bringing the total to 160. Over time, the organizers hope to inscribe the names of all of the 1,000-plus heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice after 9/11.

Other memorials to 9/11 first responders, many featuring steel beams and other items from the 9/11 attack sites, have been built or are in the works in locations including:

• Lexington County, SC
• Chatham County, NC
• Winnebago County, IL
• Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY
• Dover Air Force Base in Delaware
• North Arlington, NJ, where a chain-link fence at the edge of a park has already evolved into a makeshift memorial