Video Resources
Learn how September 11, 2001, is remembered at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and Shanksville and in communities across the country through memorials that honor those who died and that create spaces for contemplation and remembrance. The United States now observes September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, a time when the nation collectively remembers the day’s tragedy and the acts of courage shown on September 11 and in the days that followed.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
NARRATOR: The September 11, 2001 attacks, and the sacrifices of those who were injured or killed, are commemorated through memorials at the local, national and international levels. Today, at Ground Zero in New York City, a new World Trade Center stands adjacent to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which honors those who died, displays artifacts, and provides educational resources. The Memorial includes two reflecting pools set within the footprints of the Twin Towers, bordered by bronze walls inscribed with the names of all who perished. The Memorial Glade, a curving pathway with symbolic stone amidst ivy, grass and trees, is dedicated to those who were sickened or lost their lives due to toxins at the crash sites.
MAN: Laurence Christopher Abel.
WOMAN: Alona Abraham.
NARRATOR: Annually on September 11, family members and others affected by the attacks gather to publicly read all 2,977 names.
At the Pentagon, 184 benches honor the passengers and crew of Flight 77, as well as those who were killed inside the building. Inscribed with each name and arranged by the ages of the deceased, from three to 71 years old, the benches are oriented to highlight views of the path of Flight 77 and the Pentagon. The Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, honors the 40 passengers and crew who died on September 11. A marble wall lists the names of all 40 individuals. Nearby, the Tower of Voices houses 40 wind chimes, each representing a life and voice lost. A large rock marks the crash site, and close access to this sacred ground is reserved for family members.
The 206 people with Massachusetts ties who were killed on September 11 are remembered both as the first to fight the terrorists and as the first victims of the attacks. In the Boston Public Garden, the 9/11 Memorial features the Garden of Remembrance, where names are engraved on a granite semi-circle embedded in the larger public green space creating a serene, urban refuge. Adjacent to the Memorial, a sapling from the Survivor Tree at Ground Zero was planted to honor the resilience of family members who lost a loved one. Annually at the Massachusetts State House, the names of the Massachusetts victims are read aloud.
FAMILY MEMBER: My beloved brother, Mark Lawrence Bavis.
FAMILY MEMBER: And our uncle John Brett Cahill.
FAMILY MEMBER: And my father, Alexander Milan Filipov.
NARRATOR: And the Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery is given to one or more civilians. In 2002, three Flight 11 crew members received this honor posthumously, with their families accepting on their behalf.
In December 2001, Congress designated September 11 "Patriot Day," and since 2009, it has also been observed as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Tens of millions of Americans have participated in volunteer efforts that honor those lost on 9/11 and reflect the spirit of national unity that emerged in the fall of 2001. Taken together, the September 11 memorials not only honor those who perished, but preserve the stories, emotions, and lessons of that day for future generations. They stand as spaces for mourning and reflection, unity and resilience, and remind us of the human capacity to rebuild and move forward with purpose. In doing so, memorials and remembrance ceremonies help teach each generation that remembering the past can guide how we face challenges in the future.