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

Communities across the United States marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with ceremonies, races, wreath-layings and memorial gatherings honoring the nearly 3,000 people killed, including first responders and nine people with ties to Hawaii. At Ground Zero, relatives, survivors and first responders returned to remember loved ones, while speakers emphasized grief, unity and the importance of ensuring younger generations understand what happened. In Pennsylvania, Flight 93’s 40 passengers and crew were honored at the state Capitol and Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville through a memorial flag listing their names and chalk portraits commemorating their resistance to the hijackers. Local observances in Brunswick, Clyde, DeKalb County and Honolulu highlighted veterans’ service, firsthand accounts from responders and distinctive memorials incorporating steel from the World Trade Center. In Arlington County, officials broke ground on a Pentagon Memorial Visitor Education Center featuring interactive exhibits and multiple perspectives on the 184 people killed at the Pentagon. Personal remembrances included Barbara Keating, whose remains were identified and returned to her family last year, and Savannah residents who recalled watching the attacks unfold and their lasting connections to New York.