Americans Commemorate 22nd Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks, Reflecting on Horror and Legacy

As the nation observes the 22nd anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Americans from coast to coast are coming together in solemn reflection. They gathered at memorials, firehouses, city halls, and various other locations to honor the memory of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. 
President Joe Biden, returning from a diplomatic mission, payed his respects at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, highlighting that the profound impact of 9/11 reached every corner of the nation, no matter how remote. Today, citizens recollect a sense of unity, recalling that, on that tragic day, “we were one country, one nation, one people,” as expressed by Eddie Ferguson, the fire rescue chief in Virginia’s Goochland County.
Across the country, commemorations extend from the hallowed grounds of New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to the Alaskan wilderness. Communities unite, offering moments of silence, tolling bells, candlelight vigils, and heartfelt activities to pay tribute.
In Columbus, Indiana, a remembrance message is broadcast to police, fire, and EMS radios. In Fenton, Missouri, the “Heroes Memorial” stands tall, incorporating a piece of World Trade Center steel and a plaque honoring 9/11 victim Jessica Leigh Sachs.
The smaller communities, like Fenton, emphasize the importance of remembering all events that contribute to their freedom, not just 9/11. In New Jersey’s Monmouth County, the day has even been declared a holiday for county employees to ensure attendance at commemorations.
On this day, the names of the nearly 3,000 victims are read aloud at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum plaza. It is a poignant reminder that each name represents a life cherished and lost. James Giaccone, reading his brother’s name, emphasizes that by speaking these names, they don’t disappear, underscoring the importance of this commemoration.
Meanwhile, President Biden becomes the first president to commemorate 9/11 in Alaska, a testament to the far-reaching impact of that day. Still, unanswered questions linger about accountability, especially in the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
As America reflects on 9/11, it is not only a time for remembering but also for reevaluating the lessons learned from this tragic event and the subsequent events that have shaped the nation’s history.