Nation Commemorates 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks

Why it matters locally: Virginia played a direct role in the 9/11 attacks, with the Pentagon in Arlington being one of the three main sites targeted. The state continues to be home to many individuals who were directly affected by the events of that day, including first responders and military personnel whose careers and lives were shaped by the attacks.

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Americans observed the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with solemn ceremonies across the country. Major gatherings occurred in New York City, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The attacks claimed the lives of 2,977 people. Families of victims, survivors, first responders, and government officials attended these commemorations. The events acknowledged the widespread impact of the attacks, which included the destruction of the World Trade Center towers, damage to the Pentagon, and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in rural Pennsylvania. The 9/11 attacks fundamentally reshaped the United States' national security policies and foreign relations. Analysts widely consider the attacks a pivotal event that influenced the nation's course for the subsequent quarter-century. Geoff Bennett reported on the anniversary events.