Nation Prepares to Observe 25th Anniversary of September 11 Attacks

Why it matters locally: Pennsylvania will be a primary location for national observances, with a significant ceremony scheduled at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville.

The United States prepares to observe the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Events will unfold at three primary locations that morning: the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In New York City, officials will host a memorial service at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The program includes the reading of names of the 2,977 individuals who died in the attacks. Moments of silence will mark the exact times each plane struck the towers, the Pentagon, and when Flight 93 crashed. They will also pause at the times each World Trade Center tower collapsed. Family members of victims typically perform the name readings. At the Pentagon, the Department of Defense will conduct its own ceremony. The event will honor the 184 people who perished when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building. Military officials, government leaders, and family members of victims usually attend this observance. The Pentagon Memorial, a collection of 184 benches, stands as a permanent tribute to those lost. In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the National Park Service will host a remembrance at the Flight 93 National Memorial. This site commemorates the 40 passengers and crew members who died when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. Investigators determined the passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers, preventing the plane from reaching its intended target. The ceremony typically includes remarks from officials and a wreath-laying.