U.S. marks 25th anniversary of September 11 with ceremonies and reflections
Nationwide events commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 2001 attacks, while officials and survivors discuss the lasting impact and ongoing divisions in America.
America is observing the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with ceremonies across the country. In New York City, Kamala Harris and former President Joe Biden will attend a service at the 9/11 Memorial, and a special baseball game between the Yankees and Mets will honor first responders. President Donald Trump is expected to speak at a Pentagon ceremony, and a memorial service will be held at the Pennsylvania crash site of Flight 93.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum opened an exhibition titled “In Their Honor: 25 Years of 9/11-Inspired Service,” highlighting individuals who pursued public service after the attacks. Museum director Elizabeth Hillman said the display underscores how many chose to serve despite personal loss.
Officials also unveiled a repository of air-quality documents related to the disaster, which had been withheld for years. Comedian Jon Stewart, who has advocated for 9/11 survivors, criticized the delay in releasing the information.
Former New York Governor George Pataki expressed pride in the city’s recovery but warned that political polarization has grown since the attacks. He and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani suggested that New York’s Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, should not attend the ceremonies, a comment condemned by Governor Kathy Hochul and other Democratic leaders. Mamdani said he will be present at the Lower Manhattan service.
Rev. Eric Olsen, a retired National Guard chaplain who served at Ground Zero, reflected on his experiences and voiced concern about the nation’s current divisions, noting that the country feels more fragmented than in his lifetime.