This year marks both America’s 250th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, emphasizing the nation’s resilience and the importance of remembrance, according to the 9/11 Memorial Museum’s CEO.
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is also commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Elizabeth L. Hillman, President and CEO of the museum, highlighted the significance of this dual milestone, noting how it connects to the nation’s history and resilience.
“This year, America’s 250th birthday coincides with the 25th anniversary of 9/11, which means that what’s happening at our site is very much connected to the history of the country and to the recognition of this important milestone,” Hillman stated in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Nearly 3,000 lives were lost during the attacks, which saw hijacked planes strike the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Hillman emphasized the need for future generations to understand the events of 9/11 and their impact on the nation.
“Now, 25 years have passed since that date, so if we don’t elevate 9/11 in the eyes of the 100 million Americans who were born since or were too young to remember 9/11 when it happened, we’ll lose the opportunity for them to understand what happened on that day and how the world came to heal,” she said. “This includes how the nation came together and how this city, along with the Pentagon and Shanksville, worked to recover afterward.”
Hillman believes that the recovery following 9/11 serves as a powerful reminder of the nation’s ability to unite, heal, and rebuild after tragedy. “I think everyone’s hungry for evidence that we can survive things that are difficult,” she remarked. “There’s nothing like 9/11 to help people realize, given how the nation has recovered since, that it is possible to persevere, to heal, to recover, even in the face of really unfathomable loss, and that’s what 9/11 has the chance to teach us.”
Reflecting on the museum’s role, Hillman noted that the impacts of the September 11 attacks extended beyond New York City, calling the museum “a testament to the resilience of the city” and the perseverance that allowed for rebuilding efforts.
“At the center of the rebuilt World Trade Center is a monument to the people who were killed that day and a testimony, really, to what we can do when we come together after that kind of catastrophe,” she explained.
This year, the museum launched a new exhibition titled “Our Flag Was Still There,” which features flags, artifacts, and photographs that tell stories of resilience from first responders, veterans, and everyday Americans who lived through the events of 9/11. The exhibit includes significant items such as the Ground Zero flag raised by FDNY firefighters, the flag draped over the Pentagon by soldiers and firefighters, a flag raised over the last column of the South Tower, and one carried during the mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.
“It reveals how important the flag was in the healing and the coming together that happened after 9/11,” Hillman noted.
She emphasized the importance of commemorating 9/11, particularly during a time when divisions seem to be growing within the country. “The opportunity to bring people together around a symbol like the flag and around a symbol like the rebuilding of the World Trade Center after 9/11, it’s a great opportunity, especially right now,” she said.
On July 4, the museum plans to honor the victims by placing an American flag at each name on the memorial. Hillman explained that this gesture recognizes the flag’s significance as a symbol of the country on its birthday and as a representation of the ongoing recovery from 9/11.
Looking ahead to the fall, Hillman announced that the museum will begin offering free admission to veterans whose “willingness to serve after 9/11” played a crucial role in rebuilding the World Trade Center and uniting the nation.
“If there’s one message that we feel we can elevate now that we couldn’t do 25 years ago because we didn’t know enough about what would happen afterward, it’s that so many people were inspired to serve their country, serving in the military,” she said.
As the nation reflects on these significant anniversaries, the 9/11 Memorial Museum continues to play a vital role in preserving the memory of the past while fostering a spirit of resilience and unity for future generations, according to Fox News.