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
George W. Bush speaks at Shanksville, warns about domestic terrorism
Former President George W. Bush spoke at the Sept. 11 memorial at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Flight 93 crashed after passengers fought with and overcame the hijackers.
Bush reflected on the bravery of those passengers amid the carnage taking place throughout the country.
"Here, the intended targets became the instruments of rescue, and many who are now alive owe a vast, unconscious debt to the defiance displayed in the skies above this field," he said.
Bush spoke about the unity and heroism that took place in the days after the attacks, the sights of people grabbing another person's hand and "rally to the cause of one another."
He also warned about the still lingering threat of terrorism, both foreign and domestic.
Bush said there is "little cultural overlap between violent extremists abroad and violent extremists at home."
"They are children of the same foul spirit and it's our continuing duty to confront them," he said.
Bush also commended the country's veterans and armed service members who have served since the attacks.
"Nothing that has followed, nothing, can tarnish your honor or diminish your accomplishments. To you and the honored dead, our country is forever grateful," he said.
NATO marks 20th anniversary with memorial ceremony
NATO marked the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on Saturday with a commemoration ceremony in Brussels.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was joined by the U.S. Mission to NATO's Chargé d'Affaires Douglas D. Jones at the ceremony.
A wreath was laid and those in attendance fell silent as they paid their respects to those who died in the attacks
-ABC News' Guy Davies
6th, final moment of silence held
A sixth moment of silence was held at the World Trade Center memorial at 10:28 a.m. to mark the time when the North Tower collapsed.
It was the final moment of silence of the day's ceremonies.
After bells tolled, "Hamilton" actor Chris Jackson performed "Never Alone."
5th moment of silence observed
A fifth moment of silence took place at 10:03 a.m., the time when Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers fought with and overcame the hijackers.
Bells tolled at the memorial site near where the plane crashed as well as at the World Trade Center memorial.