25th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks Marked by Ceremonies in Lower Manhattan and Pentagon

On Friday, victims' families, survivors, and officials gathered at the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan for a sombre ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Attendees in New York included Vice President JD Vance, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, former mayors Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg, and former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump attended a separate ceremony on Friday morning at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, honoring the 184 people who died there.

In Lower Manhattan, family members read aloud the names of 2,983 people killed in the 9/11 attacks and the Feb. 26, 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Starting at 8:46 a.m., six moments of silence were observed to mark the exact times the twin towers were hit, collapsed, the Pentagon was attacked, and United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. For the first time, this year's ceremony included a seventh moment of silence to honor those who passed away years later from illnesses and injuries linked to the aftermath of the attacks.

The ongoing toll is deeply felt within the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), which lost 343 members when the towers collapsed and has seen an additional 453 members die over the past 25 years from cancers, lung diseases, and other illnesses tied to toxic debris. Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore noted that only about 700 of the department's 17,000 current members responded on that day. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Trade Center Health Program now provides care for more than 145,000 survivors and first responders, with over 57,000 certified cancer diagnoses.

In response to the tragedy's lasting impact, first responders and city leaders continue working to maintain memories and improve operations. The FDNY and EMS have updated their communications systems and location-tracking technologies for emergency situations. Meanwhile, Speaker of the New York City Council Julie Menin helped secure $1 million in funding this year for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to expand educational outreach for New York City students.