Boston residents and visitors gathered Friday for a series of solemn tributes honoring the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The day’s events highlighted the city’s deep respect for the victims, many of whom had ties to Massachusetts.
Flags drape Boston Common
Early this morning, nearly 3,000 white flags were laid out across Boston Common, each representing a Massachusetts resident who perished on 9/11. The sea of flags created a powerful visual reminder of the more than 200 state citizens who lost their lives that day.
Logan Airport memorial rededication
At Logan International Airport, two American flags have flown above jet bridges B32 and C19 for the entire 25‑year span. Those gates were the departure points for American Flight 11 and United Flight 175, the planes that struck the World Trade Center towers. A rededication ceremony at 11 a.m. featured remarks from Massport Deputy Director of Aviation Dave Ishihara, who said the remembrance is “important to airline crew members, pilots, the ground crew here at Logan because it’s a way to remember what happened. It still affects people in personal ways.”
State House name‑reading and moment of silence
The day began at 8 a.m. on the steps of the Massachusetts State House with a name‑reading ceremony honoring the victims who had connections to the Bay State. A moment of silence was observed at 8:46 a.m., the exact time American Airlines Flight 11 slammed into the North Tower.
Amy Sweeney Award and musical tribute
At 10 a.m., the annual Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery was presented. The award is named for the Acton flight attendant who relayed critical information to ground control on that fateful morning. The ceremony included a remembrance montage and a performance by the granddaughter of a 9/11 victim, accompanied by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Wreath‑laying and blood drive
The commemoration concluded at 1 p.m. with a wreath‑laying ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial in the Boston Public Garden, led by Mayor Michelle Wu and members of the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund’s Family Advisory Committee. In parallel, the American Red Cross hosted its annual Day of Remembrance Blood Drive from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the 521 Overlook at Fenway Park, encouraging donors to honor the fallen by saving lives.
Additional remembrance activities
Later in the afternoon, at 3:30 p.m., a ceremony was held at the Massachusetts Fallen Firefighters Memorial, further underscoring the broad community participation in remembering the tragedy.
These coordinated events across Boston reflect the city’s commitment to preserving the memory of those lost, supporting the families left behind, and reinforcing the shared values of faith, family and liberty that bind the community together.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
