9/11 25th anniversary live updates: Families gather for ceremonies at World Trade Center, Pentagon, Shanksville
Ceremonies were held Friday in New York City, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Friday marks 25 years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, which claimed the lives of 2,977 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Another 9,000 people have died from 9/11-related illnesses over the last 25 years.
Victims' families, first responders and politicians gathered for annual remembrance ceremonies at the memorials in downtown Manhattan, the Pentagon in Virginia, and Shanksville, as Americans across the country pause to remember and reflect.
"9/11 Tribute in Light: Live from Lower Manhattan," a one-hour ABC News multiplatform live special, premieres on Friday, Sept. 11, at 8:00 p.m. EDT across ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, ABC Owned Television Stations livestreams and ABC News Live.
Key Headlines
- After thousands of deaths, first responders are still navigating health effects
- ABC News goes inside 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Former President George W. Bush posts his 9/11 art on social media
- Victim's son concludes reading of names by speaking out against hate
- Victim's sister pleads with politicians to recognize 9/11 as day of remembrance
Former President George W. Bush posts his 9/11 art on social media
Former President George W. Bush posted his artwork of several famous images from 9/11 on his Instagram page Friday.
The paintings include a recreation of the image when Bush was told about the attacks during a visit to a school, and the unfurling of the U.S. flag outside the Pentagon on Sept. 12, 2001.
"Twenty-five years ago, the actions of an enemy revealed the spirit of the American people. These and other paintings are my reflections of this solemn anniversary and will be on display all month at [The George W. Bush Presidential Center]," he said in his post.
Bush reflected on the anniversary during a conversation with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Wednesday.
"9/11 was a clarifying moment for me and you and others in our administration because they realized that we were vulnerable to attack based upon what we believe," he said.
Children who lost loved ones channel grief into art at America's Camp
A new art installation at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum comes from the hearts and minds of children who lost a parent or sibling on 9/11.
The installation, a papier-mâché sculpture titled "The Feathers of the Phoenix," is composed entirely of artwork from the children at America's Camp, a free, weeklong camp that hosted the children of 9/11 victims every summer in the Berkshires for 10 years, closing as planned in 2011 on the tragedy's 10th anniversary.
Click here to read more.
Victim's son concludes reading of names by speaking out against hate
The reading of the names at the New York City ceremony concluded with powerful words from the son of victim Michael Massaroli.
“You do my dad’s legacy and the legacy of all these victims no honor by using this tragedy to spread hate,” he said.
“We have seen a medley of people come up today [to read victims’ names], of all races, all religions, all creeds,” he said.
“I’ve had to grow up and spend the past 25 years seeing people use [9/11] to hate on our Muslim brothers and sisters, to hate on people who don’t look like them. And that’s wrong and that does no honor to the victims here,” he said, as the crowd applauded. “I want to use the little platform I have to ask for that to please stop.”
He also thanked the dignitaries and families who stayed until the end of the reading of the names, saying every single name matters.
Victim's sister pleads with politicians to recognize 9/11 as day of remembrance
At the reading of the names at the New York City ceremony, the sister of Marsh & McLennan employee Sal Tieri Jr. said her brother left behind two sons who were ages 7 and 5 in 2001.
“I searched for 10 days in this city, looking in every hospital imaginable, looking for my brother who was my best friend and rock,” she said.
She then pleaded with politicians to recognize 9/11 as a day of remembrance.
“Please, dignitaries who are listening and are in attendance today: We, the family members and U.S. citizens who voted you into office, in our strongest possible voice -- we are demanding, pleading, insisting that the federal and local government agencies, with their respective lawmakers, designate, orchestrate and finally implement … mark this day, Sept. 11, as a day of atonement, recognition, remembrance and reflection for all the souls lost.”
Many in the crowd applauded, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.