National officials and family members were among those paying their respects and remembering those who died in the 9/11 attacks on a solemn anniversary on Wednesday. In New York City, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump, and his Republican running mate, Sen. JD Vance, were on the same dais.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg also stood among the dignitaries as did New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer.
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives as terrorists maneuvered two passenger jets into the World Trade Center’s twin towers high above New York City. Planes also crashed into the Pentagon and an open field near Shanksville, Pa. Biden, Harris, and Trump laid wreaths at separate ceremonies at the Flight 93 National Memorial.
As has been the custom over the years, family members were the ones speaking into microphones at the 9/11 ceremony in New York City. Earlier ceremonies in years immediately after the terrorist attacks featured politicians and officials reading from texts like the Declaration of Independence.
But a shift was made to simply allow only family members to speak publicly at the New York City ceremony. On Wednesday, those officials who gathered for the event stood silently and listened. They all paid their respects during a moment of silence, too.
The Associated Press reported that Trump, after attending the Flight 93 ceremony, described the site in Pennsylvania as an “incredible place” when speaking briefly with reporters. CNN reported that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, was going to be attending a ceremony at some point on Wednesday.
9/11 Takes On Somber Tone
Over the years, Americans have been paying their respects on this day in different ways. Some gather at official events; others have gone on social media to share their opinions about that day. In one way or another, the 9/11 attacks are a memory seared in the minds of millions.
Seeing Harris and Trump together, just hours after their presidential debate on ABC, showed that—for one moment—they put aside partisan politics.
Korryn Bishop, whose cousin John F. McDowell Jr. was killed on Sept. 11, 2001, said that if politicians “care about what’s actually going on, great. Be here. If they’re just here for political clout, that upsets me.”
Brandon Jones, who lost his cousin Jon Richard Grabowski on that day, also expressed his joy over politicians not being at the podium. “This should be a site for coming together to find feasible solutions and peace,” Jones said. “This should not be a place to score political points to get brownie points to round up your base.”
Jacob Afuakwah, whose brother Emmanuel was killed that day, said this on Wednesday: “It’s my prayer that this wicked act called terrorism will never occur again.” But the majority of family members and friends who spoke publicly at the ceremony kept their memories focused on loved ones.
For them, 9/11 is much more than a somber day of remembrance. It’s something many live with all the time, even all these years later.
