U.S. commemorates 25th anniversary of 9/11, aims to preserve memory

Washington — As the United States marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, officials emphasize the need to preserve the memory of the tragedy even as the proportion of Americans who witnessed the events firsthand continues to decline. The attacks, carried out by hijacked passenger planes, resulted in 2,977 confirmed deaths, with the World Trade Center towers in New York accounting for the largest share of the fatalities.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to honor the victims at the Pentagon, the site of one of the four coordinated strikes, rather than in New York City where the World Trade Center attacks occurred. The presidential visit underscores the broader national commemoration, which includes ceremonies at multiple locations across the country to reflect on the impact of the attacks and to reinforce public remembrance of the 2001 trauma.