9/11 light tribute back on after being canceled due to COVID-19 concerns

New York Gov.  Andrew Cuomo said the annual tribute in light near the site of the World Trade Center will continue as planned, two days after the September 11 Memorial & Museum said it wouldn't mark the tradition this year due to concerns surrounding the pandemic.

 A representative for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum said Thursday organizers were concerned about the health and safety of the employees who would have to work in close proximity to set up the tribute.  The group had said it would instead work on an alternative tribute to pay respects to the victims on the 19th anniversary of the tragedy.

The decision prompted some backlash, with thousands signing various petitions to get the 9/11 remembrance back on the calendar.

 "Those lights brighten up the night sky every year also to remind us of those who sacrificed putting our city back together, after picking up the pieces," said one of several petitions on change.org.  "Those lights need to light up the sky for 9/11/2020!"

 Cuomo announced the tribute was back on the docket in a tweet on Saturday.  He said the state will provide health and safety personnel and supervision to ensure the team working on the tribute follows best practices during the pandemic.

"I am glad that we can continue this powerful tribute to those we lost on 9/11 and to the heroism of all New Yorkers.  We will #NeverForget, "Cuomo wrote on Twitter.

 "The virus has taken so much and so many. But now the tribute will continue," he said.

 Cuomo's pledge to help comes one day after The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a non-profit honoring military and first responders, said Friday it would stage the light tribute on September 11th and the live reading of the names of the victims.