On the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the United States is solemnly commemorating the tragic events that unfolded that day. Local ceremonies and memorials are taking place across the country to remember and honor the victims who lost their lives in the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil.
The 9/11 memorial ceremonies typically involve the reading of the names of those who perished in the attacks. On that fateful day, al-Qaeda extremists hijacked U.S. passenger jets, using them as weapons to carry out coordinated attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. In total, nearly 3,000 people from more than 90 nations lost their lives in these attacks.
President Joe Biden is expected to participate in a memorial event in Anchorage, Alaska, to mark the 22nd anniversary. Vice President Kamala Harris is taking part in the procession at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, where the World Trade Center once stood.
Throughout the day, six moments of silence will be observed, each commemorating a significant moment during the attacks, including when each of the Twin Towers was struck and subsequently collapsed, as well as the times corresponding to the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of United Flight 93.
These annual memorials serve as a reminder of the resilience and unity of the American people in the face of tragedy and as a tribute to those who lost their lives on that tragic day.