Nation Marks 25 Years Since 9/11 with Solemn Memorials in New York, the Pentagon, and Shanksville

NEW YORK — Twenty-five years after the catastrophic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, solemn memorial ceremonies took place on Friday at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, honoring the victims, survivors, and first responders whose lives were forever altered. At the National September 11 Memorial in New York City, family members, first responders, and high-profile political figures gathered near the reflecting pools for the annual reading of the names. Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma delivered a poignant musical performance during the solemn roll call. High-Profile Dignitaries Gather Across Key Sites The historic milestone drew former U.S. leadership and current officials together across all three commemoration sites: New York City: Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush attended the ceremony alongside former First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President JD Vance, former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The Pentagon: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump joined military personnel and grieving families at the Pentagon site in Arlington, Virginia. The ceremony honored the 184 individuals who lost their lives when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building. Pentagon police officers unfurled a massive American flag over the building's facade to start the day. Shanksville, Pennsylvania: Visitors and family members paid their respects at the Flight 93 National Memorial under light morning drizzle, remembering the 40 passengers and crew members who heroically fought back against hijackers. Honoring the Flight 93 Legacy In Shanksville, attendees gathered near the 17.5-ton sandstone boulder marking the edge of the impact site where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. Service members from the USS Somerset (LPD-25)—a U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock named in honor of Somerset County—observed moments of silence alongside visiting families. Across each location, silent tributes, flower offerings, and military salutes reaffirmed the nation's vow to never forget the nearly 3,000 lives lost twenty-five years ago.