New York City marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks by recreating the Twin Towers with a drone light show over New York Harbor. The display, titled "2,977 Lights Over New York Harbor," utilized 2,977 individual drones, each representing one victim of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
The illuminated spectacle formed the outline of the iconic skyscrapers against the night sky, accompanied by recorded music. This commemoration was developed in collaboration with survivors, victims' family members, and first responders. Among those involved in its organization were Brenda Berkman, a New York City Fire Department first responder, and Terry Strada, president of 9/11 Families United. Family members of victims Tom Strada and Stephen Siller also contributed to the planning of the tribute, which was funded entirely by private donations.
The drone display ran concurrently with the city's established "Tribute in Light," a memorial that uses 88 powerful searchlights to project two columns of light into the sky, mimicking the original towers. The "Tribute in Light" was first presented in 2002 as a temporary commemoration and has since become an annual event organized by the Municipal Art Society of New York.
This year's commemorations have been marked by controversy surrounding the attendance of New York's first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani. He is scheduled to attend the city's memorial event, but has faced criticism from some victims' relatives and Republicans. The controversy stems from Mayor Mamdani's appointment of Ramzi Kassem as the city's chief legal counsel, who previously represented a convicted al-Qaeda member whose brother-in-law was involved in the 9/11 attacks.
Responding to the criticism, Mayor Mamdani stated his pride in leading the city and expressed a desire for the week's focus to be on the families who lost loved ones and the first responders. "What I want this week is there to be a focus on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago in the horrific act of terror of September 11th, and a focus also on the first responders who gave everything they could to this city and to the people who came together to try and help their fellow New Yorkers," Mamdani said.
Terry Strada, wife of victim Tom Strada, shared her sentiment: "For my husband, Tom, and for all the beautiful souls we lost on September 11, may these lights carry their memory upward and remind the world that even in our darkest hour, their light still shines. To illuminate the sky is to remind a new generation not only of all we lost, but of who we became in the aftermath, one nation united in grief, in love, and in resolve, rising together from the ashes."
Former President Donald Trump will not attend the Manhattan event. Reports indicate he wished to deliver a speech, but organizers declined political speeches. Trump is scheduled to commemorate the anniversary at the Pentagon, while Vice President JD Vance will represent the White House at the New York event.
On September 11, 2001, 19 Islamist terrorists hijacked four passenger planes. Two planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, another struck the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and the fourth crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew attempted to regain control from the hijackers.
