25 Years Later: Remembering September 11, 2001

Twenty-five years have passed since September 11, 2001, yet for millions of Americans, the memories of that morning remain remarkably vivid.

On a clear September morning, four commercial airplanes were hijacked by terrorists. Two were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed.

The victims came from different backgrounds, communities and walks of life. They included office workers, airline passengers and crew members, firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel and countless others who found themselves caught in an unprecedented national tragedy.

But September 11 became defined not only by the destruction that occurred that morning, but also by the extraordinary acts of courage that followed.

First responders rushed toward the World Trade Center as others attempted to escape. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics and other emergency personnel worked through unimaginable conditions to rescue survivors and assist those in need. Many never returned home.

In the days and weeks that followed, Americans witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of compassion and unity. Communities came together to support grieving families, assist first responders and help a nation struggling to understand what had happened.

The impact of September 11, however, did not end when the fires were extinguished or the recovery operation was completed.

The attacks fundamentally changed the way Americans viewed national security, air travel, emergency preparedness and the country’s role in the world. The wars that followed, changes in security policy and the experiences of military personnel and their families became part of the broader legacy of 9/11.

The health consequences have also continued for a quarter century.

Thousands of first responders, recovery workers, residents and others exposed to conditions at or near Ground Zero have experienced serious illnesses and mental-health challenges. The World Trade Center Health Program continues to provide treatment and monitoring for people affected by the attacks and their aftermath. Rutgers University, for example, reports that its World Trade Center Health Program clinical center has provided physical and mental-health services to more than 6,500 people since 2003.

A recent 25-year FDNY report further demonstrates that the consequences remain a present-day issue. More than 10,000 FDNY members are certified with a 9/11-related physical health condition, according to the New York City Mayor’s Office.

Perhaps one of the greatest challenges of the 25th anniversary is ensuring that the history of September 11 remains meaningful to generations who were not alive—or were too young to remember it.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum estimates that approximately 100 million Americans are now too young to have firsthand memories of the attacks. The organization has placed increased emphasis on educating younger generations about the events, the people who were lost and the courage and compassion displayed in their aftermath.

On September 11, 2026, families will once again gather at the National September 11 Memorial in New York to read the names of those killed. Moments of silence will mark the key moments of the attacks, while another moment will honor those who have died from 9/11-related illnesses in the years since.

Twenty-five years later, the buildings are gone, the emergency lights have long since faded, and an entire generation has grown up in the years since that morning.

But the names remain.

The stories remain.

And the responsibility to remember remains.

September 11 is remembered not simply as a day of tragedy, but as a reminder of the fragility of life, the cost of hatred and the extraordinary courage people can display in the face of unimaginable circumstances.

As America marks a quarter century since that morning, the message remains as powerful as ever:

We remember those who were lost.
We honor those who served.
We stand with those who continue to carry the scars.
And we will never forget.

September 11, 2001 — September 11, 2026