Behind the Tribute in Light

Originally posted on September 11, 2011.

I seem to be marking the day with a flurry of tributes today, so here’s one last one. My boss Philip K. Howard is a well-known political advocate, book author, pundit, tv talking head, and corporate attorney (and founder/head of the not-for-profit Common Good). He was also for many years the Chairman of the Municipal Art Society. And it was he, who on September 19, 2001 contacted Mayor Giuliani to propose the Tribute in Light (which was brought to the society by a collective of a half dozen artists). It debuted on March 11, 2002, the six month anniversary of the attack.

The Municipal Art Society has continued to produce this moving, powerful artwork on the anniversary of September 11 every year over the last decade. Mr. Howard is a man who gets things done; we’ll have him to thank for those lights in the sky tonight. But very shortly, I think, they too will be history. There seems to be a new World Trade Center going up in that space!

Addendum: as of 2014, the second World Trade Center opened its doors. But contrary to my prediction, the Tribute in Light tradition has persisted! (In an unrelated development, as of 2016 I ceased working for Philip Howard).