America Honors 24th Anniversary Of September 11 Terror Attacks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. is observing the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, with solemn ceremonies at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Families of victims, political leaders, and volunteers nationwide are paying tribute through memorials and acts of service. The anniversary arrives amid heightened security and ongoing debate over the legacy of 9/11 on U.S. policy and society.
Quick Looks — September 11, 2025, Commemorations
- Casualties: Nearly 3,000 people killed in the 2001 attacks.
- Ceremonies: Held in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville.
- Family grief: Relatives still describe the pain as “heart wrenching.”
- Leaders: President Donald Trump at the Pentagon; VP JD Vance with Charlie Kirk’s family in Utah.
- Tradition: Reading names, laying wreaths, and observing moments of silence.
- Volunteerism: Thousands join in charity drives, food donations, and blood banks.
- Global impact: Attacks triggered wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
- Unfinished justice: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed still awaits trial at Guantánamo.
- Health crisis: 140,000 people in monitoring programs for 9/11-related illnesses.
- Memorial future: Trump considers making Ground Zero a national monument.
Deep Look: America Remembers 9/11 On Its 24th Anniversary
NEW YORK — Twenty-four years after the September 11 terror attacks, Americans gathered on Thursday for ceremonies of remembrance, reflection, and resilience.
From Lower Manhattan to the Pentagon and a quiet field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, loved ones and leaders paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost on that fateful day in 2001.
Families Bear Grief, 24 Years Later
For many families, the pain of loss remains raw.
On Thursday morning, Denise Matuza, Jennifer Nilsen, and Michelle Pizzo boarded a bus from Staten Island to Lower Manhattan. Wearing T-shirts printed with photos of their late husbands, they prepared to join the annual reading of names at Ground Zero.
“Even 24 years later, it’s heart wrenching,” said Nilsen, whose husband Troy died at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 103rd floor of the World Trade Center. “It feels the same way every year.”
Others chose private memorials. James Lynch, who lost his father, Robert, attended a local service in New Jersey before heading to the beach with family.
“It’s one of those things where grief never really goes away,” Lynch said. “Finding joy in that grief has been part of my growth.”
Names, Silence, and Security
At the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Manhattan, family members took turns reading aloud the names of every victim. Six moments of silence marked the times when each tower was struck, when they collapsed, and when the Pentagon and Flight 93 were hit.
Authorities confirmed enhanced security at the ceremonies following the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah.
Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance had been expected at Ground Zero but instead traveled to Utah to meet Kirk’s family.
At the Pentagon, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump honored the 184 victims killed there, before traveling to New York for a Yankees game in the Bronx later in the evening.
In Shanksville, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins joined relatives of those who perished aboard Flight 93, laying wreaths and observing moments of silence at the windswept memorial.
A Day of Service
Since 2009, September 11 has also been observed as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Across the country, thousands of volunteers honored the legacy of the fallen through community work:
- Food and clothing drives in New York and Washington.
- Neighborhood cleanups in Chicago and Los Angeles.
- Blood donation campaigns in dozens of cities.
- Charity events to support veterans and first responders.
For many, these acts of service embody the spirit of unity that briefly defined America in the days after the attacks.
A Legacy That Still Shapes Policy
The 9/11 attacks killed 2,977 people — from office workers in Manhattan to first responders who rushed into burning towers.
But the tragedy also reshaped America’s role in the world. The U.S. launched the Global War on Terror, invading Afghanistan and later Iraq, leading to conflicts that killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians.
Two decades later, the U.S. has withdrawn from Afghanistan, but the legal case against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind, remains unresolved. Captured in Pakistan in 2003 and held at Guantánamo Bay, he has yet to stand trial.
Ground Zero’s Future
The New York ceremony took place at the memorial pools, built where the Twin Towers once stood. The site, along with the underground museum, is currently operated by a nonprofit chaired by Michael Bloomberg.
The Trump administration has floated the idea of declaring it a national monument, bringing it under federal stewardship. Supporters say it would enshrine the site as a permanent symbol of national sacrifice; critics warn it risks politicizing sacred ground.
Ongoing Health Fallout
Beyond the immediate victims, toxic dust clouds that blanketed Lower Manhattan have caused long-term health issues for survivors, first responders, and residents.
More than 140,000 people remain enrolled in monitoring programs for illnesses linked to 9/11 exposure, ranging from respiratory disease to cancer. Billions in federal funds continue to flow toward health care and compensation.
Unity in a Divided Time
The anniversary arrives during a moment of deep political polarization. Yet for a day, Americans paused together to remember the lives lost, the bravery of first responders, and the resilience of communities.
As one widow put it:
“It’s a reminder that grief never ends, but neither does love. We come back every year because we promised never to forget.”
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