US President Donald Trump paid tribute to the victims and heroes of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at a ceremony near the White House on Tuesday (local time), renewing America’s vow to “never forget” as the country prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
Standing beside a 16,000-pound steel beam recovered from the World Trade Centre, Trump honoured first responders and civilians who risked their lives to save others during the attacks.
The ceremony at the Ellipse brought together first responders, Gold Star families and representatives of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation as part of its Steel Across America tour.
According to the White House, the steel beam has travelled more than 10,500 miles across the United States as a reminder of the courage and sacrifice displayed in the aftermath of the attacks.
During the ceremony, Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour, to the family of Welles Crowther, a 24-year-old equities trader who helped save multiple people trapped in the South Tower before losing his own life.
Crowther is remembered as the “Man in the Red Bandana” because of the red bandana he wore while helping survivors escape the tower.
Recounting Crowther’s actions, Trump said a group of people trapped on the 78th floor of the South Tower were suffering from severe injuries and struggling through heavy smoke when “a rescuer appeared.”
“They call him the ‘Man in the Red Bandana,'” Trump said.
Crowther’s mother, Alison, and sister, Paige, accepted the medal on his behalf.
“This means the world to me, my daughters, Paige and Honor, and our entire family. This will be treasured for generations to come,” Alison said.
Trump also announced that the US Coast Guard will commission a new Fast Response Cutter in memory of Jeffrey Palazzo, an FDNY firefighter and Coast Guard reservist who was among the 343 New York City firefighters killed in the attacks.
“Before September 11, he had already saved many lives,” Trump said, recalling Palazzo’s service. He added that Palazzo and other members of Rescue Squad 5 died at the World Trade Centre while attempting to rescue fellow New Yorkers.
Reflecting on the scale of the attacks and their lasting impact, Trump said nearly 3,000 people were killed at the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93.
“All of these years later, we gather on another Tuesday morning in September to reaffirm the sacred vow we made a quarter of a century ago: we will never forget,” he said.
Pointing to the steel beam displayed at the Ellipse, Trump described it as a symbol of the resilience of the United States.
“This battered piece of steel here today on the Ellipse is a reminder that America is blessed with a strength no fire can consume, no evil can conquer, and no terror can destroy,” he said.
He added that the beam would “forever testify to the courage and resilience and spirit” of New York City and the United States.
Trump also recognised the sacrifices of emergency personnel who responded to the attacks.
“For the past few months, Tunnel to Towers has taken this steel across the nation to remind Americans of what we overcame that day and what our heroes did,” he said.
He noted that 23 members of the New York Police Department, 37 members of the Port Authority Police, three Court officers and 343 members of the New York Fire Department made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11.
The White House said Trump and Vice President JD Vance will visit the sites of the attacks on Friday, marking the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, to remember those who were killed and honour the families who continue to bear the loss.
The anniversary marks 25 years since the coordinated terrorist attacks that profoundly reshaped the United States and its approach to national security.
On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger aircraft in a coordinated attack against the United States. Two aircraft were flown into the World Trade Centre’s Twin Towers in New York, while a third struck the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defence, in Arlington, Virginia.
The fourth aircraft, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew attempted to regain control of the aircraft.
According to official US figures, 2,977 people were killed in the attacks, making September 11 one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in history.
The attacks triggered an immediate national crisis and ushered in a new era of US counterterrorism operations, military engagements and heightened domestic security measures.
At Ground Zero in New York, annual remembrance ceremonies continue to honour the victims. The names of those killed are read aloud by family members and loved ones, preserving a solemn tradition that remains central to the country’s 9/11 commemorations.
The attacks were orchestrated by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and followed years of confrontation between the terrorist organisation and the United States. (ANI)
