Remembering September 11th: 25 Years Later
This year marks the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001—a day that forever changed New York City, our nation, and so many lives around the world.
For those of us in Lower Manhattan, the memory of September 11th holds a particularly profound place in our hearts. Twenty-five years later, we pause to remember the lives lost, honor the families and loved ones who carry their memories, and reflect on the extraordinary courage and compassion shown in the days and years that followed.
As our city comes together in remembrance, there are several ways to honor this significant anniversary.
Commemoration Ceremony
On the morning of September 11, families will gather on the 9/11 Memorial Plaza to read aloud the names of the victims of September 11th and the February 26th, 1993 World Trade center bombing.
Throughout the ceremony, moments of silence will offer time for quiet reflection and remembrance, including a seventh moment this year honoring those who have since lost their lives to 9/11-related health effects.
For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony can also be viewed online.
Tribute in Light
As night falls over New York City, two beams of light will once again rise above Lower Manhattan in remembrance.
First illuminated six months after the attacks, Tribute in Light has become an enduring symbol of those we lost and the strength and resilience of New York. Each year, the twin beams reach into the night sky where the Twin Towers once stood—a quiet and powerful reminder to never forget.
Uniting the Nation in Hope
Beginning at 8 p.m. ET, Disney Entertainment and its affiliates, in partnership with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, will present 9/11 Tribute in Light: Live from Lower Manhattan.
The special broadcast will coincide with Tribute in Light, bringing people together across the country for an evening of remembrance, reflection, and hope.
Remember the Sky
Each September 11, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum invites people wherever they are to look to the sky and participate in Remember the Sky, inspired by Spencer Finch’s artwork Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning.
Participants are invited to photograph the sky on September 11—whether blue, cloudy, or gray—and share the image alongside a memory or tribute using #NeverForget911 and #RememberTheSky.
It is a simple gesture, but one that connects people near and far through a shared moment of remembrance.
Blue Sky Remembrance Wall
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s digital Blue Sky Remembrance Wall offers a place to share a name, memory, or personal message honoring those who were lost and the first responders who answered the call.
Each story shared helps preserve the memory of September 11 and ensures that a new generation understands not only what happened that day, but also the humanity, courage, and compassion that followed.
Twenty-five years later, we remember. We remember the lives lost and the families who carry them in their hearts. We remember the bravery of those who ran toward danger to help others. And we remember the way New Yorkers—and people around the world—came together in the days that followed.
Here in Lower Manhattan, those memories remain especially close.
May we continue to honor them, today and always.
For additional information about the 25th anniversary commemorations, please visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
