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Friday marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, bringing full transcripts of presidential remarks, a historic seventh moment of silence for illness deaths, the release of 170,000 previously undisclosed air-quality pages, and pointed family addresses at Ground Zero regarding accountability.

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The President at the Pentagon

Donald Trump chose the Pentagon over Ground Zero for the second consecutive year. Since 2012, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum has barred elected officials from speaking. Newsweek published the full transcript of his speech as a three-page PDF.

The speech opened with the Pentagon attack involving American Airlines Flight 77, which took off 25 miles from the building bound for Los Angeles at 8:20 a.m. At 9:37 a.m., the plane struck the building, claiming lives. The speech noted that 2,977 souls were ripped from the world that morning, alongside many who died in subsequent weeks and years. Trump also touched upon World Trade Center vignettes, Flight 93, and the September 12 Pentagon flag, which was displayed alongside surviving first responders. Furthermore, the speech framed Iran as the continuation of the war on terror, emphasizing efforts to ensure the Islamic Republic never acquires a nuclear weapon.

The Seventh Silence

For the first time in the ceremony's history, a seventh moment of silence was added to honor those who have since died from 9/11-related illnesses. This followed the reading of the 2,977 names and the six victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The milestone reflects a grim epidemiological reality, with the 453rd FDNY member having died of a 9/11-related illness on September 8, 2026, surpassing the 343 firefighters killed on the day itself. Reports indicate approximately 6,000 total responders, survivors, and volunteers have died from related illnesses, with over 57,000 enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program diagnosed with cancer.

Air-Quality Records Released

New York City released more than 170,000 pages of previously undisclosed records regarding post-9/11 air quality, discovered in 68 boxes stored in a city government office. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the release at a news conference on September 8, stating that more people have since died from 9/11-related illnesses than were killed on the day itself. The documents reveal that city officials knew conditions around Ground Zero were unsafe to breathe despite public assurances, while internal communications reflected concerns regarding legal liability for public exposure.

Saudi Accountability and Family Voices

During the name reading at Ground Zero, Terry Strada, national chair of 9/11 Families United and widow of victim Tom Strada, addressed the president and vice president. She stated that the courts have proved the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia fomented anti-American terrorism and called for acknowledgment of the suffering caused. Other family members also spoke, touching upon hidden truths, unredacted files, and the sacrifices of first responders.

Practical Tips

* Observances: Annual memorial events take place at Ground Zero in New York City and the Pentagon, typically featuring traditional moments of silence and the reading of victims' names.

* Health Programs: Individuals affected by the events or cleanup efforts can reference resources such as the World Trade Center Health Program and the Victim Compensation Fund for information regarding medical monitoring and claims.

* Public Records: Archived documents and newly disclosed municipal records relating to post-9/11 air quality are managed through official city and governmental channels in New York.

Source

Thom Aster Substack