U.S. Communities Mark 25th Anniversary of 9/11

Communities across the United States are marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with memorial services, stair climbs, ceremonies, public discussions and tributes honoring nearly 3,000 victims and those who served. Events include a Bricks of Honor dedication, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga program and an evening discussion with veterans and first responders in Chattanooga, while observances in Northeast Ohio, North Carolina’s Triad region, Arkansas and Wisconsin feature memorial services, moments of silence, music, prayer, flag ceremonies, survivors, veterans, local officials and artifacts connected to the attacks. Stair climbs are planned at California State University San Marcos, Charlotte’s Bank of America Corporate Center and Bristol Motor Speedway, with participants climbing the equivalent of 110 World Trade Center stories or, in San Marcos, 2,071 steps representing rescuers’ ascent. Charlotte’s climb will benefit families of fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Service Unit, while similar events raise money for first-responder support programs; an Atlanta climb at Truist Park drew more than 1,200 participants, including first responders from the United Kingdom and Ireland. Regional ceremonies also honor the 343 firefighters, 72 police officers and 10 EMS personnel killed in New York, along with victims of Flight 93 and the Pentagon attacks.