The United States is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with solemn ceremonies planned at the three primary sites: the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
These observances will honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost when 19 al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners. Former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden are expected to attend the ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial in New York. President Elizabeth Hillman has emphasized the importance of educating the approximately 100 million Americans born after 9/11 about the historical significance of the event and the nation's response.
At the Pentagon, where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed, retired Maj. Gen. Bert Mizusawa, who served in senior Army positions before and during the attacks, recalled witnessing the smoke plume from his office. He noted that the building's design, a low-rise structure, likely saved many lives compared to the World Trade Center towers. Senator Mark Warner also shared his memory of watching smoke rise from the Pentagon that day.
In Pennsylvania, the Department of the Interior will hold a reading of the names at 10:03 a.m. ET, marking the time United Flight 93 crashed into a field near U.S. Route 30 after passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft from the hijackers. Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity is scheduled to attend the ceremony in her official capacity, recalling the morning of September 11, 2001, as a seemingly ordinary day that was forever changed.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani are expected at the World Trade Center site ceremony. Governor Hochul reflected on the resilience and courage shown by New Yorkers in the aftermath of the attacks. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, whose nephew Tommy was killed while assisting a victim during the collapses, spoke of the enduring pain and the continued threat from those with anti-American values.
The nation's remembrance this year coincides with preparations for America's 250th anniversary, highlighting a generational shift in understanding the impact of 9/11. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum plays a role in preserving the memory and educating future generations about the attacks and their consequences.