Remembering 9/11 23 years later: Nation marks anniversary of terror attacks

It is hard to believe for those who lived through it, but it has been nearly a quarter of a century since America was attacked by terrorists who used three planes as weapons and crashed them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth plane en route to Washington, D.C. was brought down in a field in Pennsylvania by the passengers on board Flight 93, who fought back against a group of hijackers.

As has been done every Sept. 11 for the past 22 years, the names of those killed in the attacks will be read at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, only pausing to mark six moments of silence — when each of the four planes crashed and twice when the Twin Towers fell.

In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, a service was held to honor the 40 people who died on United Flight 93.

Edward Porter Felt was one of the 40 people killed. His brother Gordon reflected on the tragic day.

“There’s mixed feelings. Every time I come I get to spend time with my brother, but I’m reminded what happened,” Gordon Felt said. “These 40 heroes lost their lives that morning and it’s difficult.”

Gordon Felt said his brother made one of the last phone calls from Flight 93. He was on the phone with a 911 operator when the plane went down.

As WCBS said the ceremony fulfills “a sacred promise to never forget.”

Update 1:59 p.m. ET, Sept. 11: Former President Donald Trump has arrived at the Flight 93 memorial, WJAC reported. Like President Joe Biden, Trump also placed a wreath at the monument.

Update 12:45 p.m. ET, Sept. 11: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris arrived at the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to participate in a wreath-laying honoring the passengers and crew who died in the rural Pennsylvania field.

Update 10:28 a.m. ET, Sept. 11: A final moment of silence was held to mark the time when the North Tower fell 23 years ago.

Update 10:03 a.m. ET, Sept. 11: A moment of silence was held to mark the time when Flight 93 slammed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Update 9:59 a.m. ET, Sept. 11: A moment of silence was held to mark the moment the South Tower fell. A similar moment was held at 9:30 a.m. marking the time when Flight 175 hit the building.

Update 9:37 a.m. ET, Sept. 11: A moment of silence was held to mark the time when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. The ceremony in Arlington, Virginia, was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown among the speakers, WRC reported. Earlier on Wednesday morning, the annual unfurling of an American flag occurred as the sun rose.

Update 9 a.m. ET, Sept. 11: President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance are among the dignitaries at the New York Ceremony, CSPAN shared on X.com. Harris and Trump, separated by Biden and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, stood near each other less than 12 hours after the two presidential contenders faced off during a debate Tuesday night in Philadelphia.

Update 8:46 a.m. ET, Sept. 11: The ceremony at Ground Zero has begun.

Original report: In addition to the victims of the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and those on board Flight 93, the names of those killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing will also be read. In all, there will be 2,983 names said aloud as done every year.

The moments of silence will be:

• 8:46 a.m. when Flight 11 hit the North Tower.
• 9:03 a.m. when Flight 175 hit the South Tower.
• 9:37 a.m. when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.
• 9:59 a.m. when the South Tower fell.
• 10:03 a.m. when Fight 93 crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
• 10:28 a.m. when the North Tower fell.

Dignitaries will appear at the ceremonies. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Lower Manhattan. Former President Donald Trump and his Vice Presidential running mate JD Vance are also in New York City for the anniversary.

All four will be at a service at Memorial Plaza, NBC News reported.

Biden, Harris and Trump will also travel to Shanksville. The current president and vice president will participate in a wreath laying at the Flight 93 memorial before going to a wreath laying at the Pentagon later in the afternoon, CNN reported.

Not appearing at the three 9/11 memorial sites will be Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Harris’ vice presidential running mate will mark the anniversary in Minnesota, NBC News reported.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris participated in the National Wreath Laying Ceremony at the National Flight 93 Memorial. They also walked to the impact site, an area only accessible to family of the victims.

About an hour later, former President Donald Trump also laid a wreath at the site.

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