About Calling of the Names Ceremony

The Calling of the Names Ceremony at Saint Paul’s Chapel in lower Manhattan held on the afternoon of September 11^th is our annual tribute. During this ceremony, members of the 9/11 community remember those who were part of the 9 month Rescue and Recovery Effort and have since passed away. Many responders have died from 9/11-related illnesses. For this ceremony, it does not matter how they died. What matters is that they came together to help when the need was greatest, and that they are honored for their sacrifice.

All Are Welcome To The September 11th, 25th Anniversary Commemoration

The 2025 Calling of the Names Ceremony, which we invite you to watch below, was a solemn tribute to those recovery and rescue responders that we have lost since September 11th. Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony.
We look forward to paying tribute them at our 11th annual ceremony, which will take place September 11th, 2026 at 1:30pm at St. Paul's Chapel.

Click here to view our 10th annual ceremony

SUBMIT NAMES:

Please submit names of any deceased 9/11 Rescue & Recovery Effort Responders and Volunteers by clicking here

DONATIONS:

Please make donations by clicking here

The 9/11 Remembered Foundation, a 501(c)(3), is our fiscal conduit; contributions for Calling Of The Names made through this foundation are tax-deductible. Write on your donation, "COTN Donation". Your support makes all of this possible, including our programs and beautiful commemorative pins. Gifts of any size are appreciated; thank you.

VIEW PREVIOUS CEREMONIES:

Click here to view 2025 ceremony

Click here to view part 1 of the 2024 ceremony

Click here to view part 2 of the 2024 ceremony

Click here to view the 2023 ceremony

Click here to view the 2022 ceremony

BUY PINS, PATCHES, AND PROGRAMS:

Email director@callingofthenames.org to order pins, patches, and programs.
Free for family members of Responders. Otherwise, pins, patches, and programs are $10 each, $15 for two, $25 for three. Shipping is included

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Contact Ceremony Director, Barbara Horn: director@callingofthenames.org or call: (516) 359-2275

Your gifts make this annual ceremony possible.

Donations of any size are gratefully appreciated.

Thanks to 9/11 Remembered for accepting donations on behalf of the
Calling Of The Names and providing proof of your donations.

9/11 Remembered is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization creating a traveling 9/11 Memorial exhibition to visit approx 1,400 9/11 Memorials established across the USA. 9/11 Remembered has developed a nation wide network of "Trauma Counselors" who provide PTSD and Suicide Prevention Therapy for First Responders and Veterans.

Thank you again for your generosity.

To learn more about 9/11 Remembered visit:

www.911rememberedthetravelingmemorial.org

Donate

HOW WE BEGAN

As the 15th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks approached, three volunteers from the 2001-2002 St. Paul's Chapel World Trade Center Relief Ministry - Chester Johnson, Ralph Farris, and Barbara Horn - created the first Calling Of the Names Ceremony. Their intention: to honor all deceased 9/11 Rescue and Recovery Workers and Volunteers who came to help in the days, weeks, and months following the September 11th, 2001 attacks. They felt it meaningful to do so on the anniversary itself and at historic St. Paul's Chapel where many responders found respite during the nine-month Rescue and Recovery Effort. Two important decisions were made immediately: first, to call each Responder by name and affiliation, for example, Firefighter, Police Officer, Sanitation Worker, Iron Worker, etc.; and second, that their name would be called regardless of what caused their death.

The WTC complex was considered this country’s most dangerous construction site ever. For nine months, Responders labored at their own peril. They put themselves in harm’s way in order to save survivors, restore safety and security to the complex and find as many remains as possible for the families of those lost. Their determination and dedication allowed many families to put their loved ones to rest.

Responder’s Families: Your love and encouragement sustained the workers. You are the reason they were able to do what they did. Our nation is forever in your debt.

Read More

St. Paul's Chapel

A poem by J. Chester Johnson

It stood. Not a window broken.
Not a stone dislodged.
it stood when nothing else did.
It stood when terrorists brought September down.
it stood among myths. It stood among ruins.

To stand was its purpose, long lines prove that.
It stands, and around it now, a shrine of letters,
poems, acrostics, litter of the heart.
lt is the standing people want:
To grieve, serve and tend
celebrate the lasting stone of St. Paul's Chapel.

And deep into its thick breath, the largest banner
fittingly from Oklahoma climbs heavenward
with hands as stars, hands as stripes, hands as a flag;
and a rescuer reaches for a stuffed toy
to collect a touch;
and George Washington's pew doesn't go unused.
Charity fills a hole or two.

It stood in place of other sorts.
lt stood when nothing else could.
The great had fallen, as the brute hardware came down.
It stood.