The Trump administration has issued guidance to American teachers on how to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks for students who were not alive during the events. Education Secretary Linda McMahon recommended that educators incorporate age-appropriate lessons, observe a moment of silence timed to the first plane's impact, or invite students to share their reflections on the day.
"A quarter century has passed since that terrible day, but we must never forget what September 11th means for the United States," McMahon stated in a letter released Thursday. "This year, I call on American schools to educate students with moral clarity about the events of that day and its significance for the Nation’s history."
The September 11th attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people, including first responders and civilians who aided in evacuations and rescue efforts. The attacks involved four hijacked planes: American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m., followed by United Airlines Flight 175 hitting the South Tower seventeen minutes later. Both towers subsequently collapsed. A third plane hit the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew attempted to regain control of the aircraft.
McMahon also encouraged educators to share the stories of individuals whose actions exemplified courage on 9/11, such as Welles Crowther, known as the "Man in the Red Bandana," and Lieutenant Colonel Marilyn Wills. Crowther, a volunteer firefighter, assisted in the rescue of over a dozen people from the World Trade Center before its collapse. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Trump earlier in the year. Wills helped evacuate individuals from the Pentagon by forming a human chain with colleagues.
McMahon's directive was accompanied by a letter from President Trump, who declared September 11th as "Patriot Day" and ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff in remembrance of the victims. The guidance aims to ensure that younger generations understand the historical significance of the attacks and the sacrifices made on that day and in the subsequent global war on terrorism.