Rye, Harrison, and Rye Brook residents can mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks at two free public events about 20 miles up the Bronx River Parkway at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins announced an interfaith prayer vigil on Thursday, September 10, at 5 p.m. and a memorial service on Friday, September 11, at 2 p.m. Both will be held at the site of The Rising and the 9/11 First Responders Memorial, according to the county's announcement published Sunday, August 2.
Both are free. RSVPs are encouraged by emailing [email protected]. In prior years, the county has also invited family members of someone who died on 9/11 or from a 9/11-related illness to contact the same address if they wish to be involved in the events.
The memorial features 123 stainless steel strands, one for each Westchester County resident killed on September 11, 2001. The strands rise 80 feet from a circular base, intertwining above. Engraved along the outside of the base are the names of those who died, the communities where they lived, and a quote chosen by their families. Architect Frederic Schwartz designed the memorial.
Adjacent to The Rising is the First Responders Memorial, honoring those who have died from 9/11-related illnesses.
When the National September 11 Memorial & Museum's president visited the site in May 2025, Jenkins called them "sacred spaces where our community can remember, reflect, and recommit to supporting all those affected by that tragic day."
How to attend
- Interfaith Prayer Vigil: Thursday, September 10, 5 p.m., Kensico Dam, Valhalla
- Memorial Service: Friday, September 11, 2 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla
- RSVP: [email protected]
- Updates: The county's Facebook page at facebook.com/westchestergov
Upcoming community events
- Playland Park: Rides open Wednesday through Sunday, pool open through Labor Day
- Rye Comprehensive Plan: Neighborhood workshops continue through the fall for Rye's first comprehensive plan update since 1985
