The ceremony was so beautifully executed and so deeply painful. On Thursday, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum was officially dedicated with a service that transported people back to that horrific day. It was filled with stories of courage and survival, but also stories of loss and remembrance.
Former New York Gov. George Pataki read a quote from the poet Virgil, which is inscribed on one of the museum’s grand walls: "No day shall erase you from the memory of time."
Seven hundred people attended the dedication — from dignitaries and families who lost loved ones, to survivors and first responders. The event marks the beginning of a dedication period. Those with connections to September 11 were given the opportunity to visit the museum in private, any time of day, until May 21, when the museum opens its doors to the public.