Marking 25 Years of 9/11
Nation Marks 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks With Calls for Unity
Anonymous
Key Points
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recalled that the attacks struck New York City, Washington, D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania, adding, “freedom is never free.”
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South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley honored not only law enforcement, firefighters and first responders, but also “brave citizens who stood up against terrorism” and their loved ones.
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Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee identified the nine Rhode Islanders killed in the attacks: David Lawrence Angell, Carol Marie Bouchard, Mark Lawrence Charette, James Edward Hayden, Amy Nicole Jarret, Kathryn L. Laborie, Shawn M. Nassaney, Renee Tetreault Newell and Jessica Leigh Sachs.
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North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein connected the anniversary to the country’s 250th year and said Americans should cherish freedom, justice, security, democracy and peace, while stressing that “America is strongest when we stand together.”
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Barack and Michelle Obama noted that younger Americans who were children or not yet born in 2001 may struggle to imagine the shock of that morning, and highlighted the passengers who “stormed the cockpit” as well as those who left comfortable lives to serve their country.
On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, American leaders honored nearly 3,000 people killed when four planes struck New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. State Officials and The Obamas emphasized remembrance, sacrifice, and the national unity that emerged from the nation's darkest day. Governors ordered flags flown at half-staff while former presidents gathered at Ground Zero to mark the milestone.
First responders, passengers who fought back, and service members who enlisted in response were specifically honored for their courage. South Dakota Officials noted that ordinary Americans stood up against terrorism, while North Carolina Leadership stressed that "America is strongest when we stand together" as the nation marks 25 years since the attacks.
The Four Attacks That Changed America Forever
On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. EDT. Eighteen minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower. American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., and United Airlines Flight 93 went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m. The coordinated attacks killed 2,977 innocent people across all three sites.
Governors Honor Victims and Rhode Island's Nine Lost
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recalled that the attacks "struck New York City, Washington, D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania," emphasizing that "freedom is never free." Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee ordered flags to half-staff and named nine Rhode Islanders killed: David Lawrence Angell, Carol Marie Bouchard, Mark Lawrence Charette, James Edward Hayden, Amy Nicole Jarret, Kathryn L. Laborie, Shawn M. Nassaney, Renee Tetreault Newell, and Jessica Leigh Sachs.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein connected the anniversary to the nation's 250th year, urging Americans to cherish freedom, justice, security, democracy, and peace. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley honored law enforcement, firefighters, first responders, and "brave citizens who stood up against terrorism" alongside their grieving families.
The Obamas Remind a New Generation of Sacrifice
Barack and Michelle Obama released a statement noting that younger Americans born after 2001 may not remember the morning's shock. They praised passengers who "stormed the cockpit" on Flight 93 to stop another attack. The Obamas also highlighted service members who enlisted in response to the tragedy, calling on Americans to preserve the national solidarity that helped the country endure that era.
The former First Family emphasized that those who witnessed 9/11 understand its weight differently from those born into a post-attack world. They urged the nation to remember not just the loss but the extraordinary courage ordinary people showed when facing unimaginable circumstances.
A Nation Gathers at Ground Zero and Beyond
Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden attended the main commemoration ceremony at Ground Zero on September 11, 2026. Vice President JD Vance joined them alongside former First Ladies and state officials. The ceremony observed seven moments of silence, marking the exact times the attacks occurred and honoring lives lost to 9/11-related illnesses in the years since.
Across the country, states held their own remembrance services. Communities from Dutchess County, New York to Carbon County, Pennsylvania gathered to honor victims and reflect on the attacks' lasting impact. Educational institutions emphasized that a quarter-century later, teaching 9/11 history remains crucial for younger generations who have no direct memory of 2001.
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