US marks 25 years since 9/11 with tributes and lessons for a new generation

Newyork,UPDATED: Sep 11, 2026 18:34 IST

Americans are marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, remembering the shock, the lives lost and the far-reaching consequences of the al-Qaida strikes on symbols of US power and prosperity. Friday’s milestone anniversary is being observed with wreath-laying, flag-flying, moments of silence, vigils, readings of victims’ names and volunteer projects held in tribute to the day.

For many, it is also a time for private reflection and, in many schools, education about an attack that unfolded in a single morning but left nearly 3,000 people dead. According to a new poll, about half of US adults remember it as the most historic event of their lifetime, while its aftermath has stretched across decades, from personal grief to wars far from home.

Among those marking the day is Police Officer Casey Kloepfer, who plans to spend time on Friday at the Brooklyn station house where his father, Officer Ronald Kloepfer, reported for duty that morning before being called to the World Trade Center. He did not return home.

Casey Kloepfer was only four at the time, but he grew up hearing about his father’s commitment to helping people and his dedication to a job that allowed him to do that. He became a police officer this past June.

“It’s big footsteps to fill, but it’s definitely something that I take very seriously and want to continue to honour him and be the best police officer I can,” he said by phone this week. The 29-year-old wears his father’s badge number and has also joined the New York Police Department lacrosse team, which his father founded.

As the US marks 25 years since 9/11, the anniversary is bringing together public memorials, personal remembrance and lessons for a generation too young to remember the attacks, while reflecting on the lives lost and the long shadow of that day.

With PTI Inputs

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