By Zoila Palma: Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Americans pause today to remember the nearly 3,000 people killed when hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.
Memorial ceremonies are being held across the United States, as families, survivors and first responders reflected on the tragedy and the lasting impact it has had on generations of Americans.
At Ground Zero in New York, family members carrying photographs of loved ones joined Vice President JD Vance and four former U.S. presidents for the annual commemoration. The ceremony began at 8:46 a.m. with a moment of silence marking the moment American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower.
Relatives then began reading the names of the 2,977 people killed in the attacks, along with the six victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Other moments of silence marked the remaining plane crashes and the collapse of the Twin Towers, while a seventh silence was added this year to honor thousands who have since died from illnesses linked to toxic dust exposure.
For survivors and victims’ relatives, the anniversary remains deeply personal.
Memorials were also held at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, where 184 people were killed when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 fought back against the hijackers before the plane crashed.
President Donald Trump is expected to speak at the Pentagon ceremony, while mourners gathered at the Flight 93 crash site to remember those who died after preventing the aircraft from reaching its intended target.
Beyond the nearly 3,000 people killed on September 11, the attacks continue to claim lives through illnesses affecting rescue workers, first responders and others exposed to toxins at Ground Zero.
The New York City Fire Department lost 343 members on the day of the attacks, while more than 600 additional firefighters who participated in rescue and recovery efforts have since died from 9/11-related illnesses, including 26 this year alone.
As the nation marks a quarter-century since the attacks, Americans continue to mourn the lives lost while remembering how September 11 reshaped families, communities and the United States itself.
The post International News: Never forgotten, forever honored: America marks 25 years since 9/11 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Americans pause today to remember the nearly 3,000 people killed when hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. Memorial ceremonies are being held across the United States, as families, survivors and first responders reflected on the
The post International News: Never forgotten, forever honored: America marks 25 years since 9/11 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
