9-13-2026 12:08am

The 25 th Anniversary Of 9/11

John Williams Editor

Photo courtesy of John L Williams/The Spotsylvania Gazette

Photo caption: Rows of American flags stand outside Courthouse Fire & Rescue Station 1, 7200 Courthouse Commons Blvd., Spotsylvania, VA 22553, in Villages of Courthouse Commons on Wednesday evening, Sept. 9, ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Patriot Day September 25 2026

Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Americans pause today to remember 2,977 lives taken in New York, at the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Patriot Day is more than a date on the calendar. It is a call to remember the people who went to work, boarded airplanes and began an ordinary Tuesday morning without knowing history was about to change. It also honors those who ran toward danger.

WHAT DOES SEPT. 11 MEAN TO YOUR FAMILY?

By The Spotsylvania Gazette

Twenty-five years have passed since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but the memories remain deeply personal for millions of American families.

Many people remember exactly where they were when they first heard that an airplane had struck the World Trade Center. They remember watching the second tower fall, learning about the attack on the Pentagon and hearing about the passengers and crew of Flight 93.

For younger generations, Sept. 11 is history rather than memory. Their understanding of that day comes from parents, grandparents, teachers and others who experienced it.

The Spotsylvania Gazette invites readers to share what Sept. 11 means to their families. Where were you that morning? How did the attacks affect your family, military service, career or community? What have you taught your children and grandchildren about that day?

Your memories are part of our shared history. By preserving them, we honor those who were lost, those who answered the call to serve and the families who still carry the consequences of Sept. 11.

Use the comment section below to share your family’s story.