As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum marks a significant milestone. This year also observes the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The connection between these events underscores the nation’s history and resilience, according to Elizabeth L. Hillman, president and CEO of the museum.
Hillman stated, “This year, America’s 250th birthday coincides with the 25th anniversary of 9/11, which means that what’s happening at our site is very much connected to the history of the country and to the recognition of this important milestone.”
Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the attacks involving hijacked planes targeting the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Two flags flutter on a fence in front of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center at the Tear Drop 9/11 Memorial at sunset on June 13, 2026, in Bayonne, New Jersey. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
Hillman emphasized the importance of educating future generations about the events of September 11. “Now, 25 years have passed since that date, so if we don’t elevate 9/11 in the eyes of the 100 million Americans who were born since or were too young to remember 9/11 when it happened, we’ll lose the opportunity for them to understand what happened on that day and how the world came to heal, how the nation came together, and how this city and the other sites, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, worked to recover afterward,” she said.
The recovery following 9/11 serves as a testament to unity and healing, Hillman noted. “I think everyone’s hungry for evidence that we can survive things that are difficult. There’s nothing like 9/11 to help people realize, given how the nation has recovered since, that it is possible to persevere, to heal, to recover, even in the face of really unfathomable loss, and that’s what 9/11 has the chance to teach us.”
Reflecting on the museum’s role, Hillman highlighted its symbolic value, saying, “At the center of the rebuilt World Trade Center is a monument to the people who were killed that day and a testimony, really, to what we can do when we come together after that kind of catastrophe.”
Colorful flowers are left by mourners at the 911 Memorial, offering gifts to remember those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City. (Getty Images)
This year, the museum presented an exhibit titled “Our Flag Was Still There.” This display features flags, artifacts, and photographs reflecting resilience from first responders, veterans, and citizens who witnessed 9/11. Notable items include the Ground Zero flag, a flag draped at the Pentagon, and one carried during the mission against Usama bin Laden.
Hillman stated the importance of these symbols: “It reveals how important the flag was in the healing and the coming together that happened after 9/11.”
The commemoration holds special significance during times of division. “The opportunity to bring people together around a symbol like the flag and around a symbol like the rebuilding of the World Trade Center after 9/11, it’s a great opportunity, especially right now,” Hillman said.
On July 4, the museum will place an American flag at each victim’s name on the memorial to acknowledge both the country’s anniversary and the ongoing recovery from 9/11.
Looking ahead, the museum plans to offer free admission for veterans in recognition of their service and contributions post-9/11. Hillman stated, “If there’s one message that we feel we can elevate now that we couldn’t do 25 years ago because we didn’t know enough about what would happen afterward, it’s that so many people were inspired to serve their country, serving in the military.”