NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – On Sept. 11, 2015, State University of New York at New Paltz junior women's soccer student-athlete Sloane Lipshie partook in the 14th anniversary commemoration of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, reading aloud the names of 21 people whose last names began with the letter "M" for the commemoration, which was broadcast nationally.
 
She was given the opportunity after entering her name into a pool earlier this year and being selected. This was the first time she entered the pool.
 
Further, upon finishing the reading of the names, Lipshie honored her uncle, firefighter John J. Tippings II of Ladder 4, Engine 54.
 
Tippings was off duty on the day of the attack due to an eye injury sustained from a previous fire. However, as the towers were struck, he suited up and jumped on a rig toward the chaos. He was killed by the collapse of the south tower, and his body was found shielding a civilian.
 
"He is not only my personal hero, but a hero to countless others. I am honored to be his niece," said Lipshie.
 
Moments before walking up to the podium, Lipshie felt extremely nervous, although once she was on screen, her worry went away as she realized that she was just a part of a bigger message.
 
"We are honoring people who lost their lives, and those watching are not concerned with how I looked or how I sounded, they are focused on the name of the loved one they've lost and that for a few seconds on the anniversary of their death, the world is listening and acknowledging their loss and grieving with them," said Lipshie.
 
Moreover, Lipshie recalls this event as an "absolute honor" and encourages anyone who would want to read at the ceremony to enter the pool. She adds that the World Trade Center museum and reflection pool are noteworthy places to visit on the anniversary.
 
Along with the reading the names of the 2,983 people killed during the 2001 attacks and the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, the 14th anniversary also observed six moments of silence.