Nation Marks 24th Anniversary of 9/11 with Somber Memorials

Lead Thousands gathered Thursday at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and Shanksville to honor the nearly 3,000 victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, as President Trump and First Lady Melania led a wreath-laying at the Pentagon.

Nut Graf On the 24th anniversary of 9/11, Americans paused for six moments of silence, name readings and ceremonies across three sites, reaffirming a national vow to “never forget” amid heightened security following the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Ground Zero Ceremony in New York

Family members and dignitaries, including Mayor Eric Adams and former Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg, gathered on the Memorial plaza at 8:30 a.m..
Six moments of silence marked the times each hijacked plane struck and the towers fell, with relatives reading all 2,983 names of victims-including grandchildren of those lost.
Bagpipe tributes and a cello performance accompanied recitations beside the reflecting pools, as many attendees placed flowers and flags by engraved names.

Pentagon Service

President Trump and the First Lady attended an indoor wreath-laying ceremony honoring the 184 service members and civilians killed when Flight 77 struck the Pentagon.
In remarks, the President recounted acts of heroism and pledged continued defense of American values and freedom.
Ceremonial readings and a moment of silence at 9:37 a.m. commemorated the crash time, followed by military and first-responder tributes.

Shanksville Tribute

In rural Pennsylvania, relatives and officials, led by Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, held a ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial.
Wreath-laying and name readings marked the 10:03 a.m. crash time, honoring passengers and crew who fought the hijackers.

Community Service and Security Measures

Across the nation, volunteers joined food drives, park cleanups and blood donations as part of a “National Day of Service” tribute.
Security was notably increased at all sites, prompted by Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah, with the Pentagon ceremony moved indoors as a precaution.

Enduring Impact

The 9/11 attacks reshaped global policy and launched the U.S. “Global War on Terror,” with lasting health effects on first responders and survivors. More than 8,000 have since died from illnesses linked to toxic exposure at Ground Zero, underscoring the tragedy’s ongoing legacy.