US Ambassador Commemorates 9/11 Victims on 25th Anniversary
Tribute to 9/11 Victims
File image of US Ambassador Sergio Gor(Photo: IANS)
New Delhi, Sep 11: On Friday, US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, honored the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks, reaffirming the United States' commitment to combating terrorism.
As the world observes the 25th anniversary of the tragic events that claimed 2,977 lives across New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, Gor shared his reflections.
“Twenty-five years later, we remember the innocent lives lost on 9/11. We keep their families in our prayers, we will never forget them. We will always stand against terrorism,” Gor expressed on X.
On that fateful day, 19 al-Qaeda hijackers took control of four commercial flights, with two crashing into the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Another flight targeted the Pentagon, but courageous passengers managed to overpower the hijackers, resulting in the plane crashing into a field in Pennsylvania instead of reaching Washington.
In recognition of the anniversary, former President Donald Trump declared September 11 as Patriot Day, emphasizing the importance of remembering the events and victims of that day.
“A quarter of a century has passed since the terrible day of September 11, 2001, and an entire generation of Americans has now come of age with no living memory of that fateful day,” Trump stated in a proclamation released on Wednesday.
He urged the nation to renew its commitment to remembering the victims and the significance of that day.
“The passage of time must never dim what will forever burn bright in the conscience of our Nation,” Trump remarked. “Amid the ashes of Ground Zero, we made a solemn vow to Never Forget -- a vow that must be renewed in every American heart, taught in every classroom, and honored in every community across our land.”
The proclamation detailed how hijackers commandeered four planes on September 11, 2001, striking the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, while the fourth plane crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers bravely confronted the hijackers.
Trump acknowledged the bravery of the passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93, particularly Todd Beamer, who played a pivotal role in the effort to reclaim the aircraft.
“In laying down their lives, those 40 patriots transformed a quiet field into hallowed ground -- leaving behind an everlasting testament to the unbreakable will of the American people,” he noted.
The former President also paid tribute to the police officers, firefighters, emergency personnel, rescue workers, and volunteers who responded to the attacks, highlighting the nearly 100 emergency and first responder agencies involved in rescue and evacuation efforts in New York City.