Sept. 11 is a day to remember the lives lost from the 9/11 attacks, the courage of those who responded, and the generation of service members whose lives were shaped by the years that followed. For those born after 2001, it is an opportunity to learn about the people and events that changed the nation.
This year, for the 25th anniversary of the attacks, there are many ways for families to commemorate the day: attending a memorial event, watching a live ceremony from home, participating in a memorial run, or simply taking time to learn and reflect together. From observances at Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, Pennsylvania, to virtual programs accessible wherever you are, here are 12 ways to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
Event details and schedules may change. Visit the event websites for current information.
Flight 93 National Memorial, Stoystown, Pennsylvania
From Sept. 9–10, visitors can watch 20 artists from around the country create 40 chalk portraits to honor the heroes of Flight 93. The temporary tribute will be on display at the Flight 93 National Memorial Visitor Center from Sept. 11–20, weather permitting.
On Friday, Sept. 11, the Flight 93 National Memorial will hold its 25th annual September 11 Observance at the Memorial Plaza. The event is free and open to the public.
A morning observance begins at 8:30 a.m. near the Wall of Names, with the reading of the names of Flight 93 passengers and crew, and the ringing of the Bells of Remembrance.
An afternoon ceremony begins at 1 p.m. and will include keynote speakers, music and a public wreath-laying ceremony at the Wall of Names. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, park in designated lots, and use the event shuttle.
The memorial will also host a Luminaria Ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Wall of Names. 40 candle lanterns will be carried to the memorial and placed beneath the names of each Flight 93 passenger and crew member.
National Museum of American History, Washington, D.C.
With the collection with “September 11: 25 Years Later,” the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., will offer visitors a close-up look at items preserved from the three sites of the 9/11 attacks: New York City, the Pentagon, and the Flight 93 crash site.
From Sept. 9–12, visitors can view approximately 40 artifacts displayed on open tables rather than behind glass, creating space for reflection and remembrance. The collection includes airplane fragments, first responders’ equipment, and material recovered from the Pentagon. The artifact display runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
Additionally, the 2011 Smithsonian Channel documentary “9/11: Stories in Fragments” will be showing Sept. 9–11. Check the museum’s event schedule for screening times.
Both events are free.
9/11 Memorial & Museum live broadcast
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s private 25th Annual Commemoration Ceremony begins at 8:40 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11. The New York City museum will be closed to the public that day, but viewers can watch the ceremony through a live broadcast.
Later that evening, the annual Tribute in Light will send two beams of light, echoing the shape and orientation of the Twin Towers, up to four miles into the sky. The installation can be viewed within a 60-mile radius of Lower Manhattan.
9/11 Memorial & Museum virtual Digital Learning Experience
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum will offer a free, on-demand Digital Learning Experience beginning Sept. 11 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
The 30-minute program features firsthand stories from survivors, first responders and family members, along with an opportunity to participate in a live chat with Museum Education staff. Educators, families and community organizations can register for free.
New York City, New York
New York City will host several public events honoring the 343 FDNY members who lost their lives after the attacks. A Firefighters Memorial Ceremony will take place at the FDNY Firefighters Memorial at Riverside Drive and West 100th Street.
Visitors can also pay their respects throughout the day at FDNY Ten House, located across from the World Trade Center site at 124 Liberty St. The FDNY Fire Museum will host an 11:30 a.m. wreath-laying ceremony and offer visitors an opportunity to learn about the department’s response through exhibits and artifacts.
9/11 Heroes Run, New York City, New York
The Travis Manion Foundation will host its annual 9/11 Heroes Run 5K on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m. at Randall’s Island Park. The 5K welcomes runners, walkers and ruckers of all ages and fitness levels. Registration is available online.
9/11 Remembrance 5K, Fort Drum, New York
Fort Drum, New York, will host a 9/11 Remembrance 5K run/walk on Friday, Sept. 11. The free event is open to DoD ID cardholders of all ages, and walkers, strollers and leashed pets are welcome. Day-of registration begins at 6 a.m. at Magrath Sports Complex, followed by the race at 7 a.m.
U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Visit the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum on Friday, Sept. 11, at 8:30 a.m. for a commemorative ceremony, the unveiling of a 9/11-focused exhibit, and the opening of the 2026 Field of Honor. The Field of Honor is a display that will feature hundreds of American flags dedicated to service members, first responders, loved ones, and other heroes.
Coffee and bagels will be available from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Visit the event page for the full schedule and featured speakers, and to RSVP as seating is limited.
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
On Friday at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, the historic USS Yorktown will sound its horn six times to mark key moments of the attacks — including the strikes on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, the crash of Flight 93, and the collapse of both towers.
The horn will sound at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:37 a.m., 9:59 a.m., 10:03 a.m. and 10:28 a.m.
The museum is open to the public, and first responders will receive free admission.
Colorado Springs Fire Department, Colorado
If you are stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado, the Colorado Springs Fire Department will host a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Memorial Park.
The ceremony will honor Captain Patrick Rogacki, who died last year from cancer contracted while working at Ground Zero. A limited number of commemorative 9/11 coins will be available to attendees.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley, California
If your family is based at Naval Base Ventura County, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum will host a free outdoor commemoration on Sept. 11, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The program will feature keynote remarks from retired U.S. Army Sgt. Neil Duncan and Brian Montgomery, President George W. Bush’s former director of presidential advance, along with live music and a tribute to those lost on Sept. 11. Reservations are recommended.
Remembrance Ruck, New York City, New York
The New York City Department of Veterans’ Services will host its first city-sponsored Remembrance Ruck on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 9 a.m.
The 1.5-mile event begins at Cadman Plaza Park in Brooklyn, and is open to all. If participants want to complete the route with a weighted backpack, bring an empty backpack and see registration on-site for supplies.
A resource fair will follow at Surrogate’s Court, connecting the military community and attendees with information and support related to housing, mental health care, benefits, financial assistance and other services.
Registration is free and available online.
Carrying their stories forward
However your family chooses to mark the anniversary, taking a moment to remember can help ensure the stories of those lost, those who responded, and those whose lives were changed by 9/11 continue to be carried forward.
