9/11 Survivors, Heroes Nationwide Mark 25th Anniversary

As the United States marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, President Donald Trump honored New York firefighter Timmy Stackpole, who survived severe burns but later died responding to the attacks, while recognizing the families who carried on after the tragedy. Survivors also recalled acts of courage during the evacuations, including North Tower worker John Cerqueira, who escaped minutes before the building collapsed and helped a woman in a wheelchair reach safety. Boston College continued honoring alumnus Welles Crowther, the “Man in the Red Bandana,” who returned to the South Tower and is credited with saving as many as 18 people; the school also commemorates its 22 alumni who died that day. Survivor Sujo John described escaping the North Tower while fearing for his wife, Mary, who worked in the South Tower and was pregnant, and said the experience shaped his later commitment to helping others. Another South Tower survivor, Red Bank’s Ed Schmitt, reflected on returning to the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero.