From ABC7 New York · · 1m 20s
Knicks in 5, from a 9-year-old at Ground Zero
A boy reading his grandfather's name at the 9/11 memorial slipped in a sports prediction, and the crowd got a moment of lightness.
In brief
A boy reading his grandfather's name at the 9/11 memorial slipped in a sports prediction, and the crowd got a moment of lightness. Grief and joy can share the same microphone. A kid reading a name he never got to say out loud made room for both. Originally reported by ABC7 New York.
A lighter moment at Ground Zero
During Friday's 9/11 ceremonies in Lower Manhattan, the solemn roll call of names broke for something unexpected.
“There was a moment of levity at the 9-11 ceremonies on Friday.”
The boy at the microphone
Nine-year-old Andrew Rosenblum stepped up to read his grandfather's name among the victims honored at the memorial.
Knicks in 5
After the name, Andrew added a call on his favorite New York teams. The sports prediction landed in the middle of the most solemn ceremony the city holds.
He practiced all week
The families got their names about a week ahead. Andrew rehearsed four nights running, then woke up around 5:30 on Friday morning.
“We got the names like a week before it was happening so we practiced Monday night, Tuesday night and Wednesday night and Thursday night”
Optimistic about the Jets too
Asked about the season ahead, Andrew figured the Jets would do better than last year. A kid's forecast, delivered with total confidence.
Why it stuck with people
Twenty-five years on, the ceremony is carried by grandchildren who never met the people they name. Andrew's joke was a grandson sounding like himself.
Here's the gist
Grief and joy can share the same microphone. A kid reading a name he never got to say out loud made room for both.
