On the 25th Anniversary of one of the greatest tragedies to befall the United States, there are many beautiful tributes. One of the most deeply touching is the Great Boatlift of 9/11, the largest boatlift in human history, evacuating 500,000 people by boat to safety. Everyday people who became heroes at a moment’s notice.

With the towers in flames and everyone running for their lives, it soon became clear that Manhattan was an island and that there weren’t many places to run. But that it’s an island also meant something else. There were boats. This is such an amazing film, made 10 years after 9/11 by Eddie Rosenstein and narrated by Tom Hanks. When the call went out for help, hundreds of tugboats, ferries, fishing boats, coast guard cutters, party boats and others sped to Manhattan to take as many people as they could for as many trips as they could make. People who could not refuse the call to help – who were honored to assist the thousands of people, standing desperate on the edge of Manhattan – became largely unsung heroes. This video tells their story..

In memory of all those who lost their lives on 9/11 or died trying to save them, and in honor of those still alive whose efforts will always be remembered. Thank you.