Grammatically, the phrase functions as a compound noun. The core noun is "beams," which is modified by the attributive noun "light." The proper noun "September 11th" acts as an adjectival phrase, specifying the context of the light beams. The term refers to the public art installation known as the Tribute in Light, which consists of two powerful vertical columns of light projected into the night sky to represent the absent Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. It serves as an annual commemorative memorial for the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The installation is created using 88 high-intensity, 7,000-watt xenon searchlights, arranged in two 48-foot squares that echo the footprints of the original towers. Positioned on a rooftop near the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, the combined projection creates two beams that can reach up to four miles in altitude and are visible from up to 60 miles away on a clear night. The project was conceived by artists and architects Julian LaVerdiere, Paul Myoda, John Bennett, and Gustavo Bonevardi, with production support from the Municipal Art Society and Creative Time. The installation's operation, from dusk on September 11th to dawn on September 12th, is monitored in coordination with the National Audubon Society to mitigate its effect on nocturnal migratory birds, occasionally requiring temporary shutdowns to allow flocks to reorient and disperse.
As a form of commemorative art, the installation's power lies in its ephemeral and non-physical nature. The columns of light create a spectral or "phantom" representation of the towers, powerfully symbolizing both profound loss and enduring remembrance. Unlike a permanent, physical monument, its annual appearance acts as a recurring ritual, focusing public attention and providing a space for collective mourning and reflection. The work transforms the sky into a vast memorial canvas, creating a shared experience that transcends a single physical location and serves as a silent, luminous tribute to the victims of the attacks.
