US marks 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks

Today marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11, which left nearly 3,000 people dead and the nation shaken.

For many, the images and memories of that day remain vivid.

For younger generations, Sept. 11 is an event they know through history lessons, family stories, memorials, and the experiences of those who lived through it.

“This anniversary provides an opportunity to remember the lives lost, honor those who responded, recognize those who served, and acknowledge the lasting impact September 11 continues to have on survivors, veterans, families, and communities,” said Karen Christianson, the Cook County Veteran Services Officer.

Remembering Those We Lost

On Sept. 11, 2001, 2,977 people were killed in attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

The attacks brought down the World Trade Center’s twin towers — icons of U.S. economic power, and among the tallest buildings on Earth — and blew a hole in the Pentagon, the U.S. military’s fortress-like headquarters near Washington. The fourth plane was headed for Washington, officials concluded, but the aircraft went down in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew members stormed the cockpit and fought the hijackers.

The individuals were parents, children, spouses, siblings, friends, coworkers, service members, first responders, and community members throughout the United States and around the world.

“Behind every name is a family whose life changed forever,” said Christianson in the most recent County Connections.

Twenty-five years does not lessen those losses. Anniversaries can bring memories and emotions back to the surface for families, survivors, first responders, and others who experienced that day firsthand, Christianson said.

Remembering Sept. 11 begins with remembering them.

Former President George W. Bush, who was in office on 9/11, and ex-Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden and current Vice President JD Vance convened for the observance at the National Sept. 11 Memorial in New York.

Traditionally, there are no political speeches at the Ground Zero commemoration, where victims’ relatives read aloud the long list of names and added personal messages. They thanked first responders and the military, invoked religious faith, appealed for national unity and touched on the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia.

President Donald Trump attended a ceremony on Friday at the Pentagon. Other administration officials went to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania.

Honoring Responders and Survivors

Christianson said Sept. 11 also demonstrated an extraordinary level of courage.

Firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, military members, health-care workers, volunteers, and ordinary citizens responded in unimaginable circumstances. On that day in 2001, people entered damaged or burning buildings to help others they had never met. They provided medical care, searched through debris, donated blood, supplied meals, or supported families waiting for news about a loved one.

Thousands survived the attacks, but the effects did not end that day.

Many survivors and responders have experienced long-term physical and mental health consequences, including illnesses associated with exposure to hazardous materials at response and recovery sites.

“Their experiences remind us that the impact of Sept. 11 extends far beyond a single day,” Christianson said.

This year’s ceremony added another moment to honor people who were exposed to the clouds of toxic dust released by the twin towers’ fiery collapse and have since died of cancer and other illnesses. Questions remain about how many people developed health problems linked to the dust.

Those Who Answered the Call

The attacks also began a new chapter for America’s military community.

In the years following Sept. 11, millions of Americans served in the Armed Forces, deploying around the world in military, humanitarian, intelligence, security, and support roles. Some were already serving, while others joined after witnessing the events of Sept. 11. Some returned with visible injuries, while others came home carrying challenges that were not immediately apparent. Thousands did not return.

Sept. 11 also connected generations of veterans. Those who served during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and other periods watched as another generation answered the nation’s call.

“Twenty-five years later, we recognize veterans of every generation while remembering those whose service and lives were shaped by Sept. 11,” Christianson said.

The attacks changed U.S. air travel, led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, prompted new federal surveillance and intelligence-gathering powers and banking regulations, and generated ongoing debate over the balance between security and freedom.

The Families Who Served Too

Military service affects more than the person wearing the uniform. Christianson said families endure deployments, missed milestones, uncertainty, and the challenges that can continue after a veteran returns home.

Many also become caregivers and sources of support for veterans living with injuries or illnesses related to their service. For Gold Star families, families who have lost an immediate family member as a result of military service, the sacrifice is permanent. Recognizing veterans also means recognizing the families who have stood beside them.

Veterans may experience physical injuries, hearing loss, chronic pain, traumatic brain injuries, mental health conditions, or illnesses associated with toxic exposures. Some conditions appear immediately, while others may not become apparent for years.

Passing the Memory Forward

Twenty-five years after Sept. 11, many Americans were either too young to remember the attacks or had not yet been born. For them, Sept. 11 is history rather than personal memory.

Christianson said sharing that history means preserving the human stories- the lives lost, the first responders and volunteers who answered the call, the survivors who rebuilt their lives, and the service members and families whose lives were changed in the years that followed.

Preserving those stories helps future generations understand the lasting significance of Sept. 11 and the people whose lives and service remain part of its history, Christianson said.

To contact your Veteran Service Officer for Cook County, Karen Christianson, call 218-387-3639 or email veteran.services@co.cook.mn.us.

Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Monday-Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment.

Kalli Hawkins September 11, 2026