Last Sunday marked the 10 anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington. Which meant a number of advertisers rolled out either new tribute ads or ones that only ran once back in 2001. Budweiser brought back their moving tribute with the team of Clydesdale horses bowing towards New York. Verizon did a black and white ad with a bunch of kids looking at the Statue of Liberty (I only know it was Verizon because as I watched it for the umpteenth time during football I thought to myself – who does this ad? – and then paid attention to see the logo at the end)
My favorite of the day, though, was State Farm's ad. It featured a talented bunch of kids singing "Empire State of Mind" as they walked through New York to a firehouse. The door to the New York firehouse rolled up and bunch of tough looking firemen greet the children with smiling faces. When the kids finish the song, there's a real connection between the men and the children. There are also some nice shots of the new 9/11 memorial and the new skyscraper being built there.
State Farm – 9/11 New York Kids
So, what do you think? Did the all the 9/11 ads move you or annoy you? If you liked them, which ad was your favorite? Also, do you think this was a smart move by the advertisers who did it or did it come off as pandering?
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Mike McClure, Wondering What Works
I sat there wide-eyed with my jaw on the ground not being able to tear myself away to try and get ready for work. I couldn’t even fathom what was happening or why. All I knew was that a plane flew into the tower. I didn’t know details.