The United States on Friday marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, with families, survivors, first responders and government officials gathering at memorial sites across the country to honour the victims.
Ceremonies were held at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia and the crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where people gathered to remember those killed in the attacks.
The attacks killed 2,977 people at the three locations. In the 25 years since then, more than 9,000 people have also died from illnesses linked to exposure at or around the World Trade Center site, according to the World Trade Center Health Program.
The New York ceremony included the annual reading of the victims’ names. A seventh moment of silence was added for the first time this year to remember people who later died from 9/11-related illnesses.
For the past 24 years, six moments of silence have been observed during the ceremony. They mark the times the planes struck the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, the crash in Shanksville and the collapses of the two towers.
The new moment of silence followed the reading of the names and will become a permanent part of the annual ceremony.
Family members also used the occasion to call for remembrance without hatred or discrimination.
The son of victim Michael Massaroli spoke against the use of the attacks to target Muslims and other groups.
“You do my dad’s legacy and the legacy of all these victims no honor by using this tragedy to spread hate,” he said.
He said he had spent 25 years watching people use the attacks to promote hatred against Muslims and people who were different from them.
“That’s wrong and that does no honor to the victims here,” he said.
Another family member, the sister of Marsh & McLennan employee Sal Tieri Jr., recalled searching hospitals for 10 days after her brother disappeared in the attacks.
She also called on government officials to formally designate September 11 as a day of remembrance, recognition and reflection.
The 25th anniversary ceremonies served as a reminder of the lives lost on September 11, 2001, while also highlighting the long-term health consequences suffered by survivors and first responders.
The day was marked across the United States as families and communities reflected on the attacks and their lasting impact.
