9/11 20 years updates: Tribute in Light shines at end of anniversary
The anniversary was marked by several events across the country.
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.
The anniversary will be marked by several events across the country, including the annual commemoration at the World Trade Center Memorial in downtown Manhattan.
Latest headlines:
- Biden attends wreath-laying ceremony at Pentagon
- Harris reflects on unity in America following attacks
- George W. Bush speaks at Shanksville, warns about domestic terrorism
- Families begin reading of names lost at World Trade Center
- Former presidents join Biden at World Trade Center
- President Biden to attend services at World Trade Center, Shanksville, Pentagon
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.
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.
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.
Former President George W. Bush is scheduled to meet with families in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
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.
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.