As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is highlighting the significance of the attacks that occurred just over two decades ago, underscoring the nation's capacity for resilience and recovery. Elizabeth L. Hillman, president and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, noted that this year's dual milestones — America's 250th birthday and the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — offer a crucial opportunity to connect the nation's history with its enduring spirit.
"This year, America's 250th birthday coincides with the 25th anniversary of 9/11, which means that what's happening at our site is very much connected to the history of the country and to the recognition of this important milestone," Hillman stated in an interview. "9/11 is an important part of our nation's history, but especially now as the nation turns 250."
Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the coordinated terrorist attacks when hijackers crashed planes into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Hillman stressed the importance of educating younger generations, particularly the approximately 100 million Americans born after 9/11 or too young to remember the events, about the attacks' profound impact on the nation and the world. She believes that without this remembrance, there is a risk of losing the opportunity for these individuals to understand the day's events, the subsequent healing process, and the collective efforts to recover.
"If we don't elevate 9/11 in the eyes of the 100 million Americans who were born since or were too young to remember 9/11 when it happened, we'll lose the opportunity for them to understand what happened on that day and how the world came to heal, how the nation came together, and how this city and the other sites, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, worked to recover afterward," she explained.
The museum's CEO highlighted that the nation's recovery following 9/11 serves as a powerful testament to collective strength and the ability to rebuild even after immense tragedy. "I think everyone's hungry for evidence that we can survive things that are difficult," Hillman said. "There's nothing like 9/11 to help people realize, given how the nation has recovered since, that it is possible to persevere, to heal, to recover, even in the face of really unfathomable loss, and that's what 9/11 has the chance to teach us."
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum aims to be a testament not only to the resilience of New York City but also to the perseverance that enabled reconstruction. At the heart of the rebuilt World Trade Center lies a monument honoring those who perished, symbolizing what can be achieved when people unite after catastrophe.
This year, the museum launched an exhibition titled "Our Flag Was Still There," which features flags, artifacts, and photographs detailing stories of resilience from first responders, veterans, and survivors. Among the artifacts are the Ground Zero flag raised by FDNY firefighters, the flag draped over the Pentagon, a flag from the South Tower's final column, and one carried during the mission that led to Usama bin Laden's death. "It reveals how important the flag was in the healing and the coming together that happened after 9/11," Hillman noted.
Commemorating 9/11 is particularly significant at a time when societal divisions are prevalent. Hillman sees the shared symbols, such as the American flag and the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, as opportunities to unite people. "The opportunity to bring people together around a symbol like the flag and around a symbol like the rebuilding of the World Trade Center after 9/11, it's a great opportunity, especially right now," she said.
On July 4, the museum plans to place an American flag at each victim's name inscribed on the memorial, recognizing the flag's importance as a symbol of the country on its birthday and its role in the ongoing recovery from 9/11. Looking ahead to the fall, the museum will begin offering free admission to veterans, acknowledging their service in the nation's rebuilding efforts after 9/11 and their contribution to national unity. "If there's one message that we feel we can elevate now that we couldn't do 25 years ago because we didn't know enough about what would happen afterward, it's that so many people were inspired to serve their country, serving in the military," Hillman stated.