NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Americans paused Thursday to remember the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that changed the nation 24 years ago. Ceremonies in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania honored the nearly 3,000 lives lost when hijackers turned four planes into weapons. Families of victims, survivors, and leaders gathered to pay tribute, reflect, and renew a promise to never forget.

At ground zero in Lower Manhattan, relatives of the victims read names aloud in a solemn tradition. Many held photos of loved ones as the crowd stood in silence at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane struck the North Tower.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy joined former leaders, including Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg, and George Pataki. Adams spoke about the lingering impact of that day. “The same hate that drove two planes through our towers is the hate that drove a bullet through the neck of Charlie Kirk,” Adams said. He urged reflection, asking Americans to define themselves as a country.

Other political figures, including Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani, and Curtis Sliwa, also visited memorial sites across the city.

The ceremony concluded around 1 p.m. after family members finished reading the names of the dead. Six moments of silence marked the times of the attacks and the collapse of the towers.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended the ceremony at the Pentagon, where 184 people died when hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the building. The couple laid a wreath and observed a moment of silence at 9:37 a.m., the exact time of impact.

In his remarks, Trump recalled the fear and courage of that day but emphasized the resilience that followed. “In America, we take blows but we never buckle,” he said. “We bleed, but we do not bow. And we defy the fear, endure the flames, and emerge from the crucible of every hardship stronger.”

Trump also addressed the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling him “a giant of his generation.” He announced Kirk would receive the Medal of Freedom posthumously.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reflected on the wars that followed 9/11. He honored troops who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, while warning against using war as a tool for “global social work.”

In Shanksville, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins led the ceremony honoring the 40 passengers and crew of Flight 93. They died after storming the cockpit to prevent the hijackers from reaching Washington, D.C. The plane crashed in a rural field, leaving behind a legacy of courage.

From New York to Boston and across the country, communities held tributes. On Long Island, more than 1,000 people attended a sunrise service, tossing flowers into the Atlantic Ocean to honor the victims. Boston honored the 206 Massachusetts residents killed in the attacks, including passengers on the two flights that took off from Logan Airport.

Hochul directed landmarks, including One World Trade Center and the Empire State Building, to glow blue in remembrance.

The 2001 attacks killed 2,977 people, including hundreds of firefighters and police officers who rushed into danger. Nearly 500 victims were from Long Island alone.

The aftermath reshaped U.S. policy at home and abroad, leading to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The legal case against alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed remains unresolved more than two decades later.

Health concerns also endure. More than 140,000 people remain enrolled in federal monitoring programs for conditions linked to exposure at ground zero. Billions of dollars have gone to support survivors, first responders, and families.

Trump issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 11, 2025, as Patriot Day. He ordered flags at half-staff nationwide and called on Americans to renew their vow to never forget.

“September 11, 2001, will forever live in the collective consciousness of those who witnessed four commercial jetliners converted into weapons of terror,” the proclamation said.

As bells tolled and names echoed across memorials, Americans reflected on the day that reshaped history. From the ashes of tragedy, they remembered not only the pain but also the resilience and unity that followed.