Families and responders commemorate 25 years since September 11 attacks
Marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, memorial events in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania honored victims and highlighted the ongoing health toll on first-responders.
Families gathered at the World Trade Center site, the Pentagon and Shanksville on Friday for ceremonies marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Among the participants were the three sons of a New York City firefighter who responded to the disaster; the brothers, now adults, recalled growing up with their father before his health declined from exposure at Ground Zero.
The World Trade Center Health Program recently reported that more than 9,400 people have died from 9/11-related illnesses, a figure three times higher than the 2,977 who died on the day of the attacks. About 50,000 cancer diagnoses have been certified among responders and others who were in the area.
"The truth is, 9/11 didn't end on 9/11," said Michael Barasch, managing partner at Barasch & McGarry, a law firm that assists responders and survivors with compensation and benefits.
Former ABC News correspondent Ann Compton recounted being with President George W. Bush in a Florida classroom when the towers collapsed and later watching the events unfold on Air Force One. She described the experience as "horrifying" and expressed concern for the tens of thousands of people in the buildings.
In New York, nearly 3,000 folding chairs were arranged in Bryant Park, each representing one of the 2,753 victims who died in the attacks. Visitors were invited to place flowers and notes on the chairs. Dan Biederman, founder of the Bryant Park Corporation, said the public participation was intended to foster personal reflection.
The memorials provided an opportunity for survivors, families and the broader public to remember the victims while acknowledging the continuing impact of the attacks on health and community life.