US Observes 24th 9/11 Anniversary with Ceremonies Marking Each Strike

Lead: Thousands gathered in New York City, Arlington and rural Pennsylvania on Thursday for the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, observing six moments of silence timed to each plane strike and collapse at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and Flight 93 sites.

Nut Graf: As Patriot Day ceremonies unfolded, officials and survivors reaffirmed the promise to “never forget,” while President Trump attended observances at the Pentagon and in New York City, and family members read aloud the names of all victims at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Moments of Silence at Memorial Plaza In Lower Manhattan, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum plaza hosted the customary reading of 2,977 names by relatives and dignitaries. Six moments of silence marked the exact times of the attacks-8:46 a.m. and 9:03 a.m., when hijacked jets struck the Twin Towers; 9:37 a.m. and 9:59 a.m., when the towers collapsed; and 10:03 a.m. and 10:28 a.m., for the Pentagon strike and Flight 93 crash respectively.

Pentagon Tribute and Presidential Remarks At Arlington National Cemetery’s Pentagon Memorial, President Trump and first lady Melania Trump honored the 184 victims killed when Flight 77 crashed into the Defense Department headquarters. Trump delivered remarks praising first responders and calling for unity against terrorism.

Shanksville Remembrance In Somerset County, Pennsylvania, officials and survivors gathered near the Flight 93 crash site for wreath-laying and moments of silence. Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and family members led tributes to the passengers and crew who stopped the hijackers’ plot.

Rudy Giuliani’s Return to Ground Zero Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, attired in a body brace and wheelchair after a recent car accident, joined Governor Kathy Hochul and FBI Director Kash Patel at the New York ceremony-his first public appearance since August’s crash.

Citywide Honors and Service Initiatives Across New York City, the Tribute in Light illuminated landmarks in blue, from Rockefeller Center to Moynihan Train Hall. Street closures around the World Trade Center site marked security perimeters, while flags flew at half-staff nationwide. Many Americans observed Patriot Day through community service, including food drives and neighborhood clean-ups.

Security and Accessibility Lower Manhattan’s tributes coincided with the United Nations General Assembly, prompting additional traffic and security measures. Families of victims accessed the Memorial plaza via credentials, and the museum remained closed to the public to allow private visits for relatives.