September 13, 2026
“Twenty-five years ago, our nation was forever changed by the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 innocent Americans were murdered, families were shattered, and our sense of safety was shaken to its core. But in our darkest hour, we also witnessed the extraordinary courage and selflessness of the American people. We remember the firefighters, police officers, paramedics and other first responders who ran toward danger while others ran from it. We remember the brave passengers and crew of Flight 93 who fought back against their hijackers and sacrificed their lives to prevent another attack. And we remember the first responders from across the country, including many from Western New York, who traveled to Ground Zero to help with the recovery effort and have carried the physical and emotional scars of that day ever since.
We also remember the generation of Americans who answered the call to defend our nation in the wars that followed, and the countless ordinary Americans who stepped forward to help their neighbors in the days and weeks after the attacks. Twenty-five years later, we must never forget the unity that emerged from that tragedy. On September 12, Americans did not agree on every issue, but we remembered that what united us was far greater than what divided us. That spirit of American unity is something we should strive to reclaim today. As we mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 during the year of America’s 250th anniversary, we are reminded of the generations of Americans who have fought, served and sacrificed to preserve our freedom. We have a responsibility to pass those stories on, especially to the millions of Americans who were not yet born or were too young to remember. We owe it to those we lost, to those who sacrificed, and to the families who continue to carry that loss. We must remember what happened, honor the heroes who answered the call, and never take the freedoms they defended for granted.
May God bless the United States of America.
Sincerely,
Rep. Nicholas A. Langworthy
Member of Congress
