This Friday marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks, and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum will again pay tribute to the 2,977 victims of this tragic event with its annual memorial ceremony.
The somber event will be held on the sacred site where the Twin Towers once stood.
Here’s what you should know before the annual remembrance:
Where to watch
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum will stream the ceremony live on its website, starting at 8:40 a.m.
However, the ceremony at the reflecting pools will not be open to the public.
What to expect
This year’s ceremony will follow the traditional format, but it will introduce a new moment of silence for those who have passed away due to 9/11-related illnesses or injuries since the attacks.
The first of the seven moments of silence will occur at 8:46 a.m., marked by the sound of bells chiming from thousands of local houses of worship.
Families representing victims from both the 2001 and 1993 attacks will participate by reading names in pairs, pausing only for the moment of silence at specific times:
- 8:46 a.m. — when Flight 11 hit the North Tower;
- 9:03 a.m. — when Flight 175 struck the South Tower;
- 9:37 a.m. — when Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon;
- 9:59 a.m. — when the South Tower fell;
- 10:03 a.m. — when Flight 93 went down near Shanksville, Pennsylvania;
- 10:28 a.m. — when the North Tower collapsed.
For the first time, a seventh moment of silence will be observed at 12:30 p.m. for those who have died as a result of the tragedy.
The ceremony is expected to conclude at 1 p.m. with the traditional playing of Taps in honor of the victims.
Who will be there
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is set to attend the memorial for his first time in office, though he faces criticism from some families of victims and surviving first responders due to his previous comments about Israel.
Despite the backlash, he has committed to honoring the families, survivors, and first responders impacted by the attacks.
Similarly, Governor Kathy Hochul will be present, despite a Port Authority police union urging her not to attend after she illuminated One World Trade Center to recognize January as Muslim American Heritage Month.
Most living former presidents, including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, are expected to be in attendance, while Vice President Harris will also be present at Ground Zero. President Trump will be at a ceremony held at the Pentagon.
Which streets and subways will be closed
The U.S. Secret Service will set up a security fence along the east side of the West Side Highway from Liberty to Fulton Street, and around the 9/11 Memorial site, as detailed by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch during a security briefing.
Traffic will be restricted south of Canal Street to Battery Place and from Broadway to West Street starting Friday.
While southbound traffic on Broadway will remain open, all trucks will be prohibited.
The Hugh Carey Tunnel will be operational, allowing cars access to the FDR Drive.
The No. 1 subway line will also bypass the World Trade Center Cortlandt station.
Guests invited to the Ground Zero ceremony will need to go through security screening.
What follows
The Memorial Plaza will open to the public at 3 p.m.
On Friday evening, the annual 9/11 Memorial & Museum Tribute in Light will illuminate the New York City skyline as the sun sets and will continue until dawn on Saturday. This will also be broadcast live on Disney-affiliated channels and streaming services.
Additionally, many iconic buildings across the five boroughs and throughout the U.S. will light up their facades and rooftops in blue to coincide with the art installation.
