WATERTOWN, NY; September 9, 2022 – Over two decades ago, almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which triggered major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism. For most who are old enough to remember, it is a day that is impossible to forget. On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The profound importance of 9/11 transcends age, gender, geographic and even political differences.
September 2022 marks twenty-one years since the devastating tragedy occurred. In the spirit of remembrance and patriotism, WPBS is honoring this somber anniversary with a varied lineup of special programming on Sunday, September 11th 2022, including:
Chief: The Story of Bill Feehan (11:30 am) William M. Feehan was weeks away from his 72nd birthday on Sept. 11, 2001. More than 20 years after Feehan became the highest-ranking and oldest New York Fire Department member lost during 9/11, the documentary Chief pays tribute to his legacy. The son of a firefighter, Feehan joined the FDNY in 1959 after serving in the Army during the Korean War. Over the next decades, he became the first FDNY member to hold every rank in the department. The nearly 25-minute film follows Chief Feehan’s actions responding to the terrorist attacks, interspersed with highlights of his decades-long career at the FDNY.
Objects and Memory (12:00 noon) What things mean the most to us? How do otherwise ordinary items come to symbolize experiences, aspirations, and identity? Objects and Memory is about the otherwise ordinary things in our homes and museums that mean the most to us because of their associations with people and experiences. The film shows how we preserve the past and speak to the future through objects that have been transformed into irreplaceable conveyers of experience, aspiration, and identity. Guided by Frank Langella’s narration and set to the music of Philip Glass, the film examines items recovered or offered in response to 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the Vietnam War, along with stories of people who find them important.
Generation 9/11 (1:00 pm) Among the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 were more than 100 expectant fathers. Two decades later, their children are coming of age. GENERATION 9/11 focuses on the stories of seven children whose fathers died that day, and reveals how an entire generation was shaped by the tragedy and its aftermath. Born at the dawn of the 21st century, they arrived in a world where the 9/11 attacks initially drew the nation together. But by the time they entered high school, America was more divided than ever. Now entering adulthood, they carry a new sense of responsibility.
Music & The Spoken Word: 9/11 Special (6:30 pm) The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11. With conductors Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy, award-winning journalist Jane Clayson Johnson as host, and Tony award winning guest artist, Kristin Chenoweth. This special musical program of remembrance includes uplifting and inspiring music selections gathered from the Choir and Orchestra’s previous broadcasts and concerts. Interwoven with the music and narration will be commentary from individuals around the world as they remember the impact of 9/11 for everyone–everywhere.
About WPBS
WPBS is a PBS station serving approximately 650,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario via cable, satellite, Internet and over-the-air distribution. WPBS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, inform, and engage its two-nation region with exceptional and trusted content across multiple platforms. Its vision is to be the premier provider of extraordinary public media that instills wonder and curiosity across generations and borders. More information about WPBS, including a full channel listing, is available at wpbstv.org, or by following WPBS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
