Everything to know about the 9/11 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero
Friday marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks — and once again the National September 11 Memorial & Museum will honor the 2,977 people who were killed in the tragedy with its annual commemoration ceremony.
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The solemn event will take place on the hallowed ground where the Twin Towers once stood.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the annual remembrance ceremony:
Where to watch
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum will livestream the ceremony on its website beginning at 8:40 a.m.
The ceremony itself at the reflecting pools will be closed to the public.
What to expect
The ceremony will follow its traditional program — though with a new moment of silence for those who have died since the tragedy from 9/11-related illness or injuries.
The first of seven moments of silence will come at 8:46 a.m., followed by the sound of thousands of houses of worship throughout the city tolling their bells.
Families of victims of the 2001 and 1993 attacks will read the names in pairs, stopping only to honor the following moments of silence of the ceremony:
- 8:46 a.m. — the moment hijacked Flight 11 struck the North Tower;
- 9:03 a.m. — the moment hijacked Flight 175 struck the South Tower;
- 9:37 a.m. — the moment hijacked Flight 77 struck the Pentagon;
- 9:59 a.m. — the time the South Tower fell;
- 10:03 a.m. — the moment hijacked Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania; and
- 10:28 a.m. — the time the North Tower fell.
For the first time ever, a seventh moment of silence will be observed at 12:30 p.m. for those who have since died from the tragedy.
The Playing of Taps in honor of the victims is expected to close out the ceremony at 1 p.m.
Who will be there
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has promised to attend the solemn ceremony for his first time as mayor — despite backlash from some victims’ families and surviving first responders who object to his Israel-bashing rhetoric.
Despite the backlash, Hizzoner pledged to be at Ground Zero and “proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific terror attack by standing alongside them at this year’s 9/11 commemoration.”
Similarly, Gov. Kathy Hochul promised to be in attendance despite a Port Authority police union asking her to stay way over her decision to illuminate One World Trade Center alongside her proclamation recognizing January as Muslim American Heritage Month.
Most of the living presidents — Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton — are also expected to be in attendance.
Vice President Vance will attend the Ground Zero ceremony, as President Trump, attends a service at the Pentagon.
Which streets and subways will be closed
A security fence will be installed by the US Secret Service on the east side of the West Side Highway from Liberty to Fulton Street, as well as around the perimeter of the 9/11 Memorial site, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a security briefing Wednesday.
Vehicular traffic will be closed south of Canal Street to Battery Place and from Broadway to West Street starting Friday.
Traffic will be allowed southbound on Broadway, but there will be a ban on all trucks.
The Hugh Carey Tunnel will remain open, with cars being allowed access to the FDR Drive.
The No. 1 train will also bypass the World Trade Center Cortlandt station.
Invited guests permitted to attend the Ground Zero ceremony will need to go through security screening stations.
What follows
The Memorial Plaza will open to the public starting at 3 p.m.
The annual 9/11 Memorial & Museum Tribute in Light will illuminate the Big Apple’s skies as the sun sets on Friday and will last until dawn on Saturday morning, and will be aired in a live national broadcast on Disney-affiliated channels and streamers.
Dozens of other iconic buildings throughout the five boroughs — and across the US — will also illuminate their facades and rooftops in blue to coincide with the art installation.
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