9/11 20 years updates: Tribute in Light shines at end of anniversary

The anniversary was marked by several events across the country.

Last Updated: September 13, 2021, 6:54 AM EDT

Saturday marks 20 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Hijackers crashed two commercial airliners into the World Trade Center, striking the north tower at 8:46 a.m. followed by the south tower at 9:03 a.m. At 9:37 a.m., a third hijacked airline crashed into the Pentagon.

Twenty-two minutes later, the World Trade Center's south tower collapsed. A fourth hijacked plane crashed into a field in rural Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m. after passengers fought with and overcame the hijackers.

At 10:28 a.m. the World trade Center's north tower collapsed.

In total, 2,977 people were killed, including many New York City first responders.

A US Flag adorns a name at the National September 11 Memorial site of the north tower at World Trade Center in New York, Sept. 8, 2021.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

The anniversary will be marked by several events across the country, including the annual commemoration at the World Trade Center Memorial in downtown Manhattan.

Sep 11, 2021, 9:04 AM EDT

Families begin reading of names lost at World Trade Center

The families of the World Trade Center victims began their readings of the lives lost on Sept. 11.

Mike Low, whose daughter Sara was a flight attendant on Flight 11, spoke before the readings began. While he said his family's pain is still raw, they have found comfort in the community and outpouring of support from all over the world.

"As we recite the names we lost my memory goes back to that terrible day when it felt like an evil specter descended on our world, but it was also a time when people went above and beyond the ordinary," Low said.

Sep 11, 2021, 8:51 AM EDT

1st moment of silence held at World Trade Center

The memorial services at the National September 11th Memorial & Museum began with a color guard, bagpipes and a singing of the National Anthem.

The first moment of silence took place at 8:46 a.m., the time when the first plane struck the north tower.

A bell tolled to mark the moment and was echoed by bells across the city.

Sep 11, 2021, 9:15 AM EDT

Former presidents join Biden at World Trade Center

Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former first lady Michelle Obama joined President Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the National September 11th Memorial & Museum ceremonies.

PHOTO: Former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden attend the 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony in New York, Sept. 11, 2021.
Former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden attend the annual 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York, Sept. 11, 2021.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Former President George W. Bush is scheduled to meet with families in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Sep 11, 2021, 8:36 AM EDT

Crowds begin to gather at World Trade Center

Families of World Trade Center victims, survivors, first responders and dignitaries have begun gathering at the National September 11th Memorial & Museum for this year's memorial services.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and is expected to conclude at approximately 1:00 p.m.

People visit the 9/11 Memorial on the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in Manhattan, New York City, Sept. 11, 2021.
Mike Segar/Reuters

The ceremony will include moments of silence at the times the four planes crashed and the times both towers collapsed.

Family members will read the names throughout the morning of all of the people lost that day as well as the victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

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