On September 11, 2026, the United States will mark 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. For the families of the 2,977 people who were killed, for survivors, and for the responders and recovery workers who carried the burden long after that morning, the passage of time has never made the loss distant.

This anniversary is a time to remember individual lives, honor service and sacrifice, and reflect on the symbol Americans raised in the days that followed.

A Flag Raised in Grief and Resolve

In the aftermath of the attacks, American flags appeared outside homes, businesses, schools, fire stations, and public buildings across the country. Flags were raised at Ground Zero and at the Pentagon. They did not erase the grief or answer the questions of that time. They gave people a shared way to mourn, to honor, and to stand together.

For the 25th anniversary, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum opened Our Flag Was Still There, an installation featuring American flags associated with Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and the events that followed. The exhibition preserves the stories behind those flags and examines how the Stars and Stripes became a symbol of resilience, service, and shared American ideals.

Patriot Day: A National Observance

In December 2001, Congress designated September 11 as Patriot Day. The annual observance calls on Americans to honor those who lost their lives by displaying the United States flag at half-staff and observing a moment of silence.

At the 2026 commemoration ceremony, family members will again read the names of those killed. Seven moments of silence will be observed: six marking the attacks and the fall of the World Trade Center towers, and a newly added seventh honoring those who have died from 9/11-related illness and injury in the years since.

How should the flag be displayed on September 11?

The annual Patriot Day proclamation traditionally directs the American flag to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset. When placing a flag at half-staff, first raise it briskly to the peak for an instant, then lower it to the half-staff position. Before lowering the flag at the end of the day, raise it to the peak once more and then lower it ceremoniously.

Americans may also join in a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Time, the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Remembering 25 Years Later

A generation has now grown up with no personal memory of September 11. For others, the day remains painfully close. Respecting both truths matters.

Remembering does not require reliving every terrible image. It can mean speaking the names of those who were lost, lowering the flag, honoring those who ran toward danger, supporting those who still live with the consequences, and choosing service over division.

Twenty-five years later, we remember the lives taken, the families forever changed, and the courage shown by so many. May their memory continue to call us toward compassion, service, and unity.