September 11: US marks 25 years since the 9/11 attacks
WASHINGTON - Americans marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on Friday with ceremonies, tributes and acts of service honoring the nearly 3,000 people killed.
On Sept. 11, 2001, al‑Qaida extremists hijacked four commercial jets and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The attacks brought down the World Trade Center’s twin towers and tore a hole in the Pentagon, while the fourth plane, believed to be headed for Washington, crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew fought the hijackers.
Reflections from Sept. 11, 2001 news coverage
FOX 5’s Melanie Alnwick reflects on her coverage from Sept. 11, 2001.
"In the course of history, there are a few moments that divide time into, really, what came before," and after, President Donald Trump said at a remembrance in Washington this week. Trump, who was in New York on Sept. 11 and has often recounted his memories, attended the Pentagon’s anniversary ceremony Friday.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump listened as the names of the 184 people killed at the Pentagon were read aloud, a bell tolling between each. Trump also recounted the stories of several victims, saying, "We will never, ever forget. That’s why we fight today. We don’t have a choice."
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Former President George W. Bush, along with former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, joined Vice President JD Vance at the National Sept. 11 Memorial in New York. Other administration officials attended the observance at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania.
9/11 Day of Service in DC
One of the largest Sept. 11 volunteer efforts is underway in D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, where the ‘9/11 Day of Service’ kicked off. FOX 5’s Stephanie Ramirez reports.
At the ground zero ceremony, victims’ relatives read the long list of names and shared personal messages. They thanked first responders, reflected on loved ones’ lives and noted milestones missed over the past 25 years. Many who spoke were too young to have known the relatives they lost.
The ceremony included moments of silence marking key points in the attack timeline. Organizers added a new moment this year to honor people exposed to the clouds of toxic dust released when the towers collapsed and who later died of cancer or other illnesses. Questions remain about how many people developed health problems linked to the dust.
RELATED: Retired pilot remembers flight attendant wife killed in 9/11 Pentagon attack
FOX 5 is making available its FOX 5 DC Archive featuring footage and coverage from Sept. 11, 2001.
REALTED: 9/11 memorials in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania honor the lives lost
September 11: Nation marks 25 years since the 9/11 attacks
President Donald Trump and Americans in Washington, D.C., and across the country are marking 25 years since the September 11 attacks with ceremonies, tributes and acts of service honoring the nearly 3,000 people killed.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press and previous FOX 5 reporting.