Americans Unite to Remember 9/11: A Day Forever Cherished
United in Memory: Commemorating the Legacy of 9/11
As we mark the 22nd anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11, Americans from coast to coast are coming together to remember the horror and the enduring legacy of that fateful day. People are gathering at memorials, firehouses, city halls, and various other places to pay their respects and reflect on the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
These commemorations are not confined to the sites directly affected by the attacks — the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania — but extend to the farthest corners of our nation, including Alaska. Even President Joe Biden is participating in a ceremony at a military base in Anchorage, underscoring how the impact of 9/11 was deeply felt in every nook and cranny of the country.
On that fateful day, our nation came together as one. We were united in purpose and shared grief, exemplifying the true spirit of unity. Eddie Ferguson, the fire-rescue chief in Virginia’s Goochland County, aptly recalls, “we were one country, one nation, one people, just like it should be. That was the feeling — that everyone came together and did what we could, where we were at, to try to help.”
Goochland County, located more than 100 miles from the Pentagon and over three times that distance from New York, may seem far removed from the epicenters of the tragedy. However, their sense of connection is profoundly embodied in a local memorial that incorporates steel from the World Trade Center’s destroyed twin towers.
This predominantly rural county of 25,000 residents goes above and beyond with not one but two anniversary commemorations: a morning service honoring first responders and an evening ceremony paying tribute to all the victims.
Across the nation, communities of all sizes are remembering this solemn day with moments of silence, the tolling of bells, candlelight vigils, and various other activities. For instance, in Columbus, Indiana, 911 dispatchers broadcast a heartfelt remembrance message to police, fire, and EMS radios throughout the city, which also holds a public memorial ceremony.
In Fenton, Missouri, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts proudly raise and lower the American flag at a commemorative event. The “Heroes Memorial” there includes a piece of World Trade Center steel and a plaque dedicated to 9/11 victim Jessica Leigh Sachs, whose relatives reside in this small St. Louis suburb of 4,000 residents. As Mayor Joe Maurath aptly puts it, “We’re just a little bitty community, but it’s important for us to continue to remember these events. Not just 9/11, but all of the events that make us free.”
New Jersey’s Monmouth County, which was home to some of the 9/11 victims, has even designated September 11th as a holiday for county employees this year so they can attend the commemorations.
In addition to attending ceremonies, many Americans also observe this anniversary by engaging in volunteer work, in line with Congress’s designation of both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
At ground zero in New York, Vice President Kamala Harris is set to join the ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum plaza. This year, political figures will step aside, allowing victims’ relatives to take the podium for an hours-long reading of the names of the deceased.
James Giaccone, who lost his brother Joseph Giaccone on that tragic day, reads his brother’s name every year at the ceremony. He emphasizes the importance of keeping their memory alive, saying, “If their name is spoken out loud, they don’t disappear.” For him and countless others, this commemoration remains a vital part of their lives, a day that changed history.
President Biden, a Democrat, is making history as the first president to commemorate September 11th in Alaska or anywhere in the western U.S. While his predecessors have visited the attack sites in most years, Biden’s visit serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of 9/11.
First Lady Jill Biden will lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon, honoring the lives lost at that site.
In Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked jets crashed as passengers bravely attempted to thwart the terrorists, a remembrance ceremony and wreath-laying will take place at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, operated by the National Park Service. Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, is expected to attend this ceremony.
The memorial site is also taking a proactive approach to educate the next generation. They are offering a new educational video, virtual tours, and other materials for teachers to use in classrooms. More than 10,000 educators with over 10,000 students have registered for access to the free “National Day of Learning” program, which will be available through the fall. As memorial spokesperson Katherine Hostetler aptly puts it, “We need to get the word out to the next generation.”
As we remember the events of 9/11, we do so not only to honor the past but to ensure that the lessons of that tragic day are passed down to future generations. It is a day etched into our history, one that serves as a solemn reminder of our resilience, unity, and the enduring spirit of America.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
