NEW YORK — Americans marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks Friday with moments of silence, the reading of victims’ names and ceremonies honoring the lives lost in New York, at the Pentagon and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, killed 2,977 people after al-Qaida hijackers seized four commercial airplanes. Two planes struck the World Trade Center towers, one hit the Pentagon and a fourth crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers and crew members fought back.
At the National September 11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan, relatives gathered at the footprints of the Twin Towers for the annual reading of names. The first moment of silence came at 8:46 a.m. Eastern time, marking when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower.
For the first time, organizers added a seventh moment of silence to recognize people who have died from illnesses connected to toxic dust and debris released during the attacks and recovery operation. The addition reflects a human toll that continued long after the rubble was cleared.
Thousands of firefighters, police officers, construction workers, volunteers, residents and office workers were exposed to contaminants around Ground Zero. Many survivors and responders continue to receive treatment for cancers, respiratory disease and other conditions associated with that exposure.
At the Pentagon, the names of the 184 people killed there were read aloud as bells tolled. A separate ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial honored the 40 passengers and crew members who died when the plane crashed near Shanksville.
Communities across the country also held vigils, stair climbs and service projects. In the Houston area, first responders and residents gathered for memorial events, including a stair climb at Constellation Field in Sugar Land. Participants climbed roughly 2,200 steps, representing the 110 stories first responders faced at the World Trade Center.
The anniversary also renewed reflection on how the attacks reshaped American life. The United States launched wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, created the Department of Homeland Security, expanded surveillance and transformed airport security. Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities also faced a sharp rise in harassment and discrimination after the attacks—effects that remain part of the nation’s post-9/11 history.
A quarter-century later, many young Americans have no personal memory of that day. Families, educators and museums are working to preserve firsthand accounts while explaining both the heroism shown during the crisis and the complicated consequences that followed.
Friday’s observances centered on the victims, survivors and responders whose lives were permanently changed. The Tribute in Light, two beams illuminating the New York sky, was scheduled to return after sunset as a symbol of remembrance and loss.
Sources: Reuters, The Associated Press and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Sept. 11, 2026.
