On the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, America paused to remember the lives lost and forever changed, in a ceremony that brought together political rivals at the site where the World Trade Center once stood.
The solemn occasion at ground zero in New York City saw an unprecedented gathering of presidential candidates, with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump standing side by side. The political heavyweights, fresh from their first debate the previous night, set aside their differences to honor the nearly 3,000 victims of radical Islamic terrorism on that fateful day.
The ceremony began with the tolling of a bell and a moment of silence, as Biden, Trump, and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg stood just feet apart. In a moment of unity, Harris and Trump shook hands just hours after their presidential debate.
For the families of the victims, the day remained raw with emotion, transcending politics. Cathy Naughton, honoring her cousin Michael Roberts, one of hundreds of firefighters killed, said, “Twenty-three years later, it’s just so raw. We want to make sure people remember always, and say the names always and never forget.”
The anniversary, falling in the midst of the presidential election season, highlighted the delicate balance between remembrance and political reality. Organizers have long strived to keep the focus on the victims, with politicians serving as observers while family members read the names of the fallen.
Later in the day, Biden and Harris were scheduled to attend ceremonies in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon, the other sites where hijacked planes crashed on 9/11. Trump was also due to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The commemoration serves as a reminder of how the events of 9/11 reshaped America and the world, and reminds all of us of our solemn promise: Never forget.
As the legacy of 9/11 continues, communities across the nation have developed various remembrance traditions, from laying wreaths to displaying flags, ensuring that the promise endures for generations to come.
You can rewatch the ceremony in full here —