America remembers nearly 3,000 lives lost as New York marks a quarter-century since the attacks
Fauzia J. Choudhury:— The United States is marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, with memorial ceremonies being held in New York, at the Pentagon and at other locations associated with the tragedy.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, which targeted the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Virginia. United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to regain control of the hijacked aircraft.
A quarter-century later, September 11 remains a defining event in American history.
Trump: “We’ll Never Forget”
At a 25th-anniversary ceremony at the Pentagon, President Donald Trump paid tribute to those killed in the attacks and those who responded to the crisis.
Trump emphasized the enduring significance of September 11 and the need to remember the victims, first responders and others who risked their lives that day. His remarks also linked the memory of the attacks to the continuing U.S. focus on national security and the fight against terrorism.
Names Read at Ground Zero
At the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan, family members of the victims gathered to read the names of those who died.
Moments of silence marked key moments of the attacks, continuing a long-standing tradition of remembrance at the site.
This year’s commemoration also recognizes people who became seriously ill and died in the years following the attacks after exposure to the toxic dust and debris at the World Trade Center site.
The long-term health consequences of 9/11 have become an important part of the anniversary, particularly for first responders, recovery workers and others who were exposed at Ground Zero.
A Changed New York
The physical landscape of Lower Manhattan has changed substantially over the past 25 years.
New buildings, public spaces and memorial facilities have been developed around the World Trade Center site, while the area has regained its importance as a business and tourism center.
The impact of 9/11, however, extends beyond the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan. The attacks led to significant changes in U.S. security measures, air travel, immigration policy and law enforcement.
Impact on Immigrant Communities
The post-9/11 period also brought increased discrimination and hostility toward Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities.
Over the past 25 years, New York has continued to develop as one of the world’s most diverse cities. Neighborhoods such as Jackson Heights have remained important centers of immigrant life, with communities from South Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and other parts of the world contributing to the city’s economic, cultural and civic life.
Tribute in Light
As night falls over New York, the Tribute in Light will again illuminate the sky above Lower Manhattan.
The two beams of light serve as a visual memorial to those who died on September 11 and have become one of the most recognizable symbols of the city’s annual remembrance.
Twenty-five years after the attacks, the ceremonies across the country continue to focus on the same central message: remembering those who were lost, honoring those who responded and preserving the history of September 11 for future generations.
Twenty-five years later, New York remembers. America remembers.
“We’ll never forget.”
