Thirteen Years Later: Remembering 9/11
As the United States commemorates the 13th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the nation’s thoughts are once again with all those who lost loved ones on that tragic morning. We remember the names, faces, and lives of the men, women, and children who were killed, and look for ways to ensure that each and every one of them is not forgotten.
Did You Know? As part of Operation Noble Eagle, USNS Comfort was activated the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001, in response to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Comfort was pierside in Manhattan Sept. 14 - Oct. 1 where the ship's crew provided meals, care packages, housing, and medical and psychological services to volunteers and relief workers at ground zero.
Watch BOATLIFT: An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience below. Tom Hanks narrates the epic story of the 9/11 boatlift where brave mariners evacuated half a million people from the stricken piers and seawalls of Lower Manhattan. BOATLIFT premiered at the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Summit: Remembrance/Renewal/Resilience in Washington. The Summit kicked off a national movement to foster community and national resilience in the face of future crises.
Did You Know? A new poll reveals that a striking number of Americans believes that the United States is less than safe now it was before the September 11th attacks. The recently released NBC News/WSJ poll says that 47 percent of respondents fear that the United States is more susceptible to terrorist attack now, which is a post-9/11 high.
In commemoration, the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City has opened a new exhibit focusing on the search for and ultimate killing of Osama bin Laden. The exhibit includes a uniform shirt that one of the Navy SEAL Team 6 members wore during the 2011 raid of bin Laden’s hideout in Pakistan, a coin donated by a CIA operative who pursued him and a brick from bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan.
“This exhibit not only captures a seminal moment in American history, it also allows millions of visitors the chance to recognize the extraordinary bravery of the men and women who sacrifice so much for this country at home and abroad,” 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels said.
There are many ways to honor 9/11 around your community and across the nation, including volunteer projects, moments of silence, 5K memorial runs and stair climbs. See:
A Guide to Honoring 9/11 in Your Community
September 11 Memorial Events around the Washington, DC Region
Observe a moment of silence on September 11 at any or all of the following times marking key moments on 9/11.
8:46 a.m.: Hijackers deliberately crash Flight 11 into floors 93 through 99 of the North Tower (1 WTC).
9:03 a.m.: Hijackers deliberately crash United Airlines Flight 175 into floors 77 through 85 of the south tower (2 WTC).
9:37 a.m.: Hijackers deliberately crash American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, near Washington, D.C.
9:59 a.m.: The South Tower (2 WTC) collapses.
10:03 a.m.: After learning of the other attacks, passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 launch a counterattack on hijackers aboard their plane to try to seize control of the aircraft. In response, the hijackers crash the plane into an empty field near Shanksville, Pa.
10:28 a.m.: The North Tower (1 WTC) collapses. The 16-acre World Trade Center site is in ruins, with collateral damage affecting all adjacent properties and streets. A rescue and recovery effort begins immediately.