'We will never, ever forget': Americans mark 25 years since 9/11
A quarter of a century after the deadliest attack on US soil, Americans gathered on Friday to commemorate the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11 , 2001. The Al Qaeda attack was arguably the defining event of this century so far, and has shaped countless lives across the globe, particularly in the Middle East during a string of US-led wars. Former presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton,…
On the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Americans gathered on Friday to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost. Former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, alongside New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Vice President JD Vance, attended the National September 11 Memorial in Manhattan. The ceremony started with a moment of silence, recalling the time Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Family members then read the names of the 2,977 victims, as well as the six individuals killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The devastating impact of the attacks continues, with thousands more dying from inhaling toxic dust following the collapses of the buildings. Alexander Romero, whose father was among the 2,977 killed, delivered a poignant tribute, urging, "Don't leave anything left unsaid, and try to make the absolute most of the limited time that we all have here."
The tragic event has shaped generations of Americans, influencing foreign policy, domestic politics, and public attitudes towards security. At the Defense Department, President Donald Trump vowed, "We will never, ever forget. That's why we fight today."
In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, mourners gathered at the crash site where passengers thwarted the hijacking attempt of a fourth plane. The attacks marked the beginning of America's "war on terror," leading to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. The subsequent wars have cost the US an estimated $8 trillion, excluding interest payments on borrowing, and resulted in at least 940,000 deaths, including civilians, armed forces, contractors, journalists, and humanitarian workers.
In the aftermath of 9/11, Americans expressed profound solidarity and patriotism, yet Muslim Americans and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries faced heightened prejudice and hate crimes. New York's first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, faced calls to skip the ceremony, which he refused, vowing to honor the memory of the victims.
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