US Commemorates 24th Anniversary of 9/11 with Nationwide Ceremonies

Lead: Today, Americans gathered at memorials in New York City, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to honor nearly 3,000 victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks, observe moments of silence and reaffirm the pledge to never forget.

Nut Graf: Marking the 24th anniversary of hijacked planes striking the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, ceremonies featured family members reading victims’ names, six moments of silence at precise strike and collapse times, and calls from officials to uphold unity and vigilance against terror. The commemorations underscore the day’s enduring impact on survivors, first responders and the nation’s collective memory.

New York Memorial Plaza Observance

• Ceremony on the Memorial Plaza began at 8:30 a.m., with families gaining entry from 7:30 a.m. and the first moment of silence observed at 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 struck the North Tower.
• Throughout the program, six moments of silence marked the strikes on both towers, the Pentagon attack and the crash of Flight 93, punctuated by readings of the 2,983 names inscribed on the Memorial.
• “We fulfill our sacred promise to never forget,” declared a representative of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum as bagpipes played and the Bell of Hope tolled.

Pentagon and Shanksville Ceremonies

• In Arlington, Virginia, military and civilian leaders observed a moment of silence at 9:37 a.m., the moment Flight 77 hit the Pentagon, followed by a wreath-laying honoring the 184 victims.
• Near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, local officials and families assembled at the Flight 93 National Memorial for readings of names and a wreath ceremony at the crash site’s Wall of Names.

Calls for Unity and Vigilance

• Dignitaries at each site urged Americans to stand together against division and to remain alert to evolving security threats.
• President Biden, attending a separate remembrance event, reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to defend democracy and pursue justice against those who perpetrate terror.

Community Service and Personal Tributes

• Across the country, volunteers participated in food drives, blood donations and neighborhood clean-ups as part of a national day of service honoring victims through acts of goodwill.
• Survivors and second-generation family members, including children too young to remember 2001 firsthand, joined name-readings, highlighting the legacy of remembrance passed to new generations.

Never Forget.