New Delhi, September 2026 : US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Friday paid tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to standing against terrorism as the world marked the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.
Gor shared a message on social media platform X, remembering the innocent lives lost in the attacks and expressing solidarity with their families.
“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 said in his post.
The September 11 attacks remain one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in modern history, claiming 2,977 lives in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda hijackers seized control of four commercial passenger aircraft. Two of the planes were deliberately flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City, causing both iconic buildings to collapse.
A third aircraft was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, near Washington, D.C.
The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was believed to be heading towards Washington. However, passengers and crew members confronted the hijackers and attempted to regain control of the aircraft. The plane ultimately crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, preventing it from reaching its intended target.
US President Donald Trump has proclaimed September 11 as Patriot Day to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the attacks and honour those who lost their lives.
In a White House proclamation issued on Wednesday, Trump reflected on the passage of 25 years since the attacks and noted that an entire generation of Americans had now grown up without a direct memory of the events.
“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 said.
He called on Americans to renew their commitment to remembering the victims and the events of September 11, stressing that the passage of time should not diminish the significance of the tragedy.
Trump also highlighted the courage of the 40 passengers and crew members aboard Flight 93 who confronted the hijackers. He specifically recalled Todd Beamer, who helped lead the effort to retake the aircraft.
“In laying down their lives, those 40 patriots transformed a quiet field into hallowed ground,” Trump said, describing their actions as a lasting testament to the determination of the American people.
The President also paid tribute to the police officers, firefighters, emergency personnel, rescue workers and volunteers who responded to the attacks.
According to the proclamation, nearly 100 emergency and first-responder agencies took part in rescue and evacuation operations in New York City following the attacks.
The 25th anniversary is being marked across the United States through memorial ceremonies, moments of silence, vigils and other events honouring the victims and those who responded to the attacks.
The messages from Gor and Trump underline the continuing significance of September 11 in US public life and reaffirm Washington's stated resolve to oppose terrorism and remember those whose lives were lost.
