A Country in Mourning: the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

Lights representing the former World Trade Center at the 9/11 memorial in the Financial District of Manhattan. Jacquelyn Drain '27

This year marked the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on United States soil that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. Around the country, memorial services were held to honor and mourn the victims of the horrifying day that remains deeply embedded in American society.

At ground zero in Manhattan, mourners gathered as relatives read off the names of those lost in the attacks while cellist Yo-Yo Ma serenaded in the background. This was followed with a moment of silence and a ceremonial bell ringing. 

A variety of other musicians performed at the memorial, including The Brooklyn Youth Chorus, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Musica Reginae, The Harlem Chamber Players, music director and pianist Adam Rothenberg and vocalists Emily Fink and Naomi Serrano. 

Many prominent figures were also in attendance, including former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani was also in attendance along with Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

As is tradition, no political figures spoke at the service. This has been the norm since 2012 in an effort to refocus the event from politics to the lives lost. Some family members of those who were lost spoke about the events that their loved ones have missed since their death, including the New York Knicks NBA championship this year, as well as their upset with the political landscape following the tragedy.

It was also extremely apparent that one living president was missing from the service in Manhattan: current President Donald Trump. 

The New York Times reported that Trump chose not to attend the New York City ceremony after being informed he could not give a speech at the memorial, where political speeches have not been permitted since 2012. Trump disputed that account and said he was attending the Pentagon ceremony instead. Vice President JD Vance attended the New York City ceremony while Trump was at the Pentagon, which was also struck on 9/11.

During the memorial at the Pentagon, Trump gave a speech honoring the victims.

“In 25 years, a generation has passed since the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, yet time has not dimmed the honor of that day when our country came face to face with true evil,” Trump said. “With the events of that morning, 2,977 beautiful souls were ripped from our world.”

Trump also spoke of the war following the attack and the soldiers who fought and continue to serve our country in Iran. 

“We salute every member of the United States military who served in the ‘war on terror’,” Trump said, “and we salute the service members working right now to ensure the world’s number one sponsor of terror, the Islamic Republic of Iran, will never ever have a nuclear weapon.”

In the weeks leading up to the day of remembrance, there was much turmoil surrounding Mamdani’s attendance at the event as the first Muslim mayor of the city. A petition was started by family members of those lost on 9/11 in the weeks leading up to the anniversary calling for Mamdani to not attend the service. The petition received over 100,000 signatures.

"We felt that having Mamdani there would show a disrespect to our family members because of the people he supports," said Giovanni Galante, who started the petition. 

There was also a memorial held in Pennsylvania, where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in an open field after passengers and crew members fought back against the hijackers. 

“25 times we have gathered at this hallowed place and at Ground Zero in New York and a lonely field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania,” Trump said. “Today we renew the sacred oath that we first swore in their names a quarter of a century ago: we will never, ever forget.”

Even over two decades after the horrific attacks on our nation, Americans still remember, honor and mourn those we lost that day and those we continue to lose today to the effects of Sept. 11.

Sept. 11, 2001 was the day the entire world stood still and even years later, the world still slows down ever so slightly as we remember to never forget what occurred in the clear skies of that Tuesday morning.