U.S. Marks 9/11 Anniversary; Greek-Americans Remember Those Who Lost Their Lives

Americans are commemorating Sept. 11 with somber tributes and a new monument to the victims 17 years on from the horrific events.

Thousands of Sept. 11 victims’ relatives, survivors, rescuers and others are expected at Tuesday’s anniversary ceremony at the World Trade Centre, while U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence will head to the two other locations where hijacked planes crashed on Sept. 11, 2001, in the deadliest attack on American soil.

The president and First Lady Melania Trump plan to join an observance at the Sept. 11 memorial in a field near Shanksville, Penn., where a new “Tower of Voices” memorial was dedicated to the victims on Saturday. Pence is attending a ceremony at the Pentagon.

Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks on Sept. 11, when international extremism hit home in a way it previously hadn’t for many Americans.

AHEPA’s Supreme President George E. Loucas has issued the following statement on the 17th anniversary of terrorist attacks:

“Today, on the seventeenth anniversary of September 11th, we remember the nearly 3,000 people, including 39 Greek Americans, who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks against the United States. We can never forget their sacrifice and our thoughts and prayers will always be with them and their families. Their memories will be eternal.

In times of tragedy, there are always individuals, whether they are emergency first responders or ordinary, everyday civilians, who are the first to respond. We salute and thank them for their brave acts of heroism on that fateful day in American history.”

Below is the list with the Greek-American victims (some believed to have Greek roots because of their names) issued by the New York City Coroner’s office.

Joanne Marie Ahladiotis, 27
Ernest Alifakos, 43
Arlene T. Babakitis, 47
Katherine Bantis, 48
Peter Brennan, 30
Thomas A. Damaskinos, 33
Anthony Demas, 61
Constantine (Gus) Economos, 41
Michael J. Elferis, 27
Ana Fosteris, 58
Jimmy Grekiotis
Kenneth G. Grouzalis, 56
Steven M. Hagis, 31
Vasilios G. Haramis, 56
Nicholas John, 42
John Katsimatides, 31
Danielle Kousoulis, 29
Thomas Kuveikis, 48
James Maounis, 42
Philip William Mastrandrea, Jr 42
George Merkouris, 35
Stilianos Mousouroulis
Peter C. Moutos, 44
Nikos Papadopoulos/Papas, 29
James N. Pappageorge, 29
George Paris, 33
Theodoros Pigis, 60
Daphne Pouletsos, 47
Richard N. Poulos, 55
Stephen E. Poulos, 45
Anthony Savas, 72
Muriel Fay Siskopoulos, 60
Timothy Patrick Soulas, 35
Andrew Stergiopoulos, 23
Michael C. Tarrou, 38
Michael Theodoridis, 32
William P. Tselepis, 33
Jennifer Tzemis, 26
Prokopios Paul Zois, 46