The United States pauses this Friday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Across the country, solemn ceremonies honor the 2,977 victims who perished on that morning and the thousands who have since died from related illnesses.
Ground Zero ceremony in New York
At the former World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, the memorial begins at 8:30 a.m. Family members will read aloud the names of the 2,983 individuals who died at the site – the 2,977 victims of the 2001 attacks plus the six who were killed in the 1993 bombing.
Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joseph R. Biden are expected to attend, along with Vice President J.D. Vance. None of the former presidents or the vice president will speak, in keeping with the site’s rule against political speeches.
The reading will be punctuated by moments of silence, beginning at 8:46 a.m. to mark when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower. For the first time, a seventh moment of silence will honor those who have died from 9/11‑related illnesses and injuries.
Pentagon ceremony with President Trump
President Trump will attend a separate ceremony at the Pentagon, the site of the 1998 attack on Flight 77. “We just decided as a team that I would go to New York for 9/11 and the president would stay here in D.C., of course, to commemorate what happened at the Pentagon, because that was a critical part of the tragedy of 9/11 as well,” Vice President Vance explained.
During the Pentagon event, the U.S. Army will honor the 184 service members and civilians killed when Flight 77 struck the building. The ceremony is closed to the public but will be broadcast live. President Trump is slated to deliver remarks praising the heroes who responded that day and the steadfast spirit of the nation.
President Trump previously spoke at the Pentagon ceremony last year and visited Ground Zero as a presidential candidate in 2024, standing alongside Vice President Vance, President Biden and then‑Vice President Kamala Harris.
Shanksville observance
In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the National Park Service will hold its annual September 11 observance at the Flight 93 National Memorial. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will represent the administration, and Veterans Administration Secretary Doug Collins, who participated last year, will also attend.
The program will include a reading of the names of the 40 passengers and crew members who gave their lives when United Flight 93 crashed into a field after passengers stormed the cockpit.
Why the remembrance matters
These ceremonies underscore the nation’s gratitude for the first‑responders, military personnel and ordinary citizens who acted with courage on that tragic day. President Trump’s remarks at the Pentagon are expected to reinforce the message that America’s strength lies in its faith, families and the liberty of its people – values that have guided the nation’s recovery and continue to shape its future.
As the nation reflects, the memorial services serve as a reminder that the sacrifices of 2001 remain a cornerstone of American resolve, and that the United States will forever honor those who gave everything for freedom.
Original reporting: WMAL (Washington DC) — read the source article.
