Trump, Vance to Mark 25th Anniversary of 9/11 at Pentagon, Ground Zero

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance will attend ceremonies Friday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001.

The events will honor the 2,977 people killed after al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners and flew them into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, while one plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field.

Of those killed, 2,753 died in New York, including 343 firefighters. An additional 184 people died at the Pentagon near Washington, and 40 others died outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

“We will never forget the 2,977 precious lives taken from us, we will always cherish their memories, and we will forever hold their families in the enduring embrace of our Nation,” Trump wrote in a proclamation issued on Sept. 9.

Trump added that America’s vow made in the aftermath of Ground Zero to “never forget” must be renewed in the hearts of Americans, honored in every community, and taught in every classroom.

Here are some of the ceremonies taking place.

The Pentagon

The president and First Lady Melania Trump are expected to attend the annual ceremony at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and will include a reading of the names of the 184 people killed when American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. The ceremony will also feature remarks from the president.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of War said the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial would be temporarily closed to the public on Friday from 3 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the observance. The department noted that exceptions would be made for any survivors, survivors’ families, or victims’ families interested in attending.

The president and first lady will also participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday.

Ground Zero Ceremony

While the president is at the Pentagon, Vance will be at the Ground Zero ceremony held at New York City’s 9/11 Memorial Plaza.

This year’s ceremony, which will begin at 8:40 a.m., will feature a reading of the names of the 2,983 individuals killed in the 2001 attacks, and the bombing of the World Trade Center on Feb. 26, 1993.

The ceremony in New York City will include six moments of silence corresponding to each time the World Trade Center towers were struck, when the towers fell, the attack at the Pentagon, and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. It will also include a seventh moment of silence in honor of those who have died due to health effects caused by the events of 9/11.

The first moment of silence will be observed in New York City at 8:46 a.m.

The Tribute in Light commemorative public art installation will also be featured in New York City at 8 p.m. on Sept. 11 until dawn on Sept. 12. The display includes two beams of light that honor the memory of the Twin Towers.

Tribute in Light, which was first displayed on the six-month anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, has been featured every year on the night of the national tragedy. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum describes the display as an “iconic symbol that both honors those killed and celebrates the unbreakable spirit of New York.”

The display features twin beams on the roof of New York City’s Battery Parking Garage. The beams, generated by 88 7,000-watt xenon lightbulbs, reach up to four miles high and can be seen within a 60-mile radius.

Flight 93 National Memorial Ceremony

Multiple ceremonies will be held at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

A public observance of the 40 lives lost will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Wall of Names. The ceremony will include a reading of the names of the passengers and crew members killed. The Bells of Remembrance will also be rung.

From 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., a second ceremony will take place at the Wall of Names and will feature keynote speakers, music, and a public wreath-laying at the memorial.

The Luminaria Ceremony, featuring a procession of 40 candle lanterns, will also take place at the Wall of Names from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

After the ceremony, the Tower of Light tribute will be lit and displayed until midnight.