Twin beams over Mount Washington to mark 25 years since 9/11
Maine residents looking west on clear nights Sept. 9-12 may see a memorial light display rising from the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire.
Two tall columns of light will begin at 8 p.m. each night from the 6,288-foot summit as part of The Honor Summit, a 25th-anniversary observance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Organizers say the beams will extend about 4½ miles into the sky and could be visible as far as 135 miles away under clear conditions, including from western parts of Maine.
For people in Maine, suggested viewing locations include Height of Land along Route 17 in Roxbury, Quill Hill in Rangeley and Hacker’s Hill Preserve in Casco.
The project was created by Renee Plummer of Granite Springs Foundation, with support from the state of New Hampshire and regional partners. It is intended to honor the people killed in the attacks, along with first responders and military veterans.
On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four airliners. Two were crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon in northern Virginia and another into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. A total of 2,977 people were killed.
Organizers say the light display is also meant to help younger generations understand why the attacks still matter. Plummer emphasized that the next generation will carry the memory forward.
“It’s an opportunity for kids to learn,” Plummer said. “They’re the generation that is going to carry this on, and we have a responsibility as a society.”
The Honor Summit describes the effort as a way to connect people who experienced Sept. 11 firsthand with those who know it mainly through history. The observance also comes during the nation’s 250th anniversary year.
Plummer hopes anyone who sees the beams will take a moment to remember.
“Look up and pause, reflect, remember, even if it’s 10 seconds,” she said.
Visitors will not be able to drive themselves up the Mount Washington Auto Road during the display, though guided tours are being offered.
For Plummer, the project is about giving lasting meaning to the phrase “never forget.”
“Let’s not just make that a slogan,” she said. “Let’s make this an opportunity for us to truly never forget.”
