25 Years After 9/11, Nation Reflects on Loss, Resilience, and Legacy

Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the United States marked the anniversary with personal recollections, tributes, and reflections on the event's enduring impact. The attacks, which killed 2,977 people in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, remain a defining moment in modern American history. In Britain, Queen Elizabeth II demonstrated solidarity with the American people in the days following the attacks. She broke royal protocol by requesting the Coldstream Guards play "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace on September 13, 2001. The Queen also made an unprecedented personal gesture by singing along to the U.S. national anthem during a memorial service at St. Paul's Cathedral on September 14, 2001, an act described by journalists at the time as a profound sign of unity. The anniversary also highlighted the ongoing health crisis stemming from the attacks. Close to 9,000 people have died from ailments linked to toxic air exposure at Ground Zero, a toll that now exceeds the nearly 3,000 killed in the initial strikes. This lingering crisis has affected first responders, survivors, and residents.