After over twenty years since the tragic events of 9/11, the New York City medical examiner's office has recently announced the identification of the remains of a Long Island man who lost his life at the World Trade Center.
John Ballantine Niven, a 44-year-old executive at Aon Risk Services, worked on the 105th floor of Tower Two of the complex, as reported in obituaries at the time. He and his young family divide their time between Manhattan and Oyster Bay, the place of his childhood.
Ellen Niven, his wife, expressed her gratitude on Thursday for the ongoing efforts of city officials in the challenging process of identifying the remains of the victims. She and their son, Jack, who was only 18 months old at the time of his father's passing, appreciate the extraordinary dedication shown by these officials.
"The discovery of DNA many years later has undoubtedly stirred up emotions for me, as well as for countless others," she expressed in an email. "The City of New York and the dedicated teams working tirelessly behind the scenes have truly paid homage to the mantra 'Never Forget'." Niven's identification marks a significant milestone in the aftermath of the tragic act of terrorism that shook America to its core. The hijackers' deliberate crashing of airplanes into the Twin Towers resulted in the loss of 2,753 innocent lives, making it the deadliest act of terrorism on American soil. Niven's identification brings closure to another victim, shedding light on the magnitude of this devastating event.
According to the AP, the medical examiner's office has been employing cutting-edge DNA analysis techniques to successfully identify the remains of victims in recent times. Approximately 40% of the individuals who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attack still await identification, as the collapse of the towers resulted in the recovery of only a limited number of intact bodies. As DNA testing has advanced, there have been increased efforts to link over 21,900 remains to their respective victims.
Scientists often revisit the same remains multiple times, driven by the hope that advancements in technology will yield the answers they seek. Tragically, the 9/11 attacks claimed the lives of almost 3,000 individuals in New York, at the Pentagon, and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
John Ballantine Niven, a 44-year-old executive at Aon Risk Services, worked on the 105th floor of Tower Two of the complex, as reported in obituaries at the time. He and his young family divide their time between Manhattan and Oyster Bay, the place of his childhood.
Ellen Niven, his wife, expressed her gratitude on Thursday for the ongoing efforts of city officials in the challenging process of identifying the remains of the victims. She and their son, Jack, who was only 18 months old at the time of his father's passing, appreciate the extraordinary dedication shown by these officials.
"The discovery of DNA many years later has undoubtedly stirred up emotions for me, as well as for countless others," she expressed in an email. "The City of New York and the dedicated teams working tirelessly behind the scenes have truly paid homage to the mantra 'Never Forget'." Niven's identification marks a significant milestone in the aftermath of the tragic act of terrorism that shook America to its core. The hijackers' deliberate crashing of airplanes into the Twin Towers resulted in the loss of 2,753 innocent lives, making it the deadliest act of terrorism on American soil. Niven's identification brings closure to another victim, shedding light on the magnitude of this devastating event.
According to the AP, the medical examiner's office has been employing cutting-edge DNA analysis techniques to successfully identify the remains of victims in recent times. Approximately 40% of the individuals who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attack still await identification, as the collapse of the towers resulted in the recovery of only a limited number of intact bodies. As DNA testing has advanced, there have been increased efforts to link over 21,900 remains to their respective victims.
Scientists often revisit the same remains multiple times, driven by the hope that advancements in technology will yield the answers they seek. Tragically, the 9/11 attacks claimed the lives of almost 3,000 individuals in New York, at the Pentagon, and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
