The Kabul Tribune (KT) — President Donald Trump has proclaimed Sept. 11, 2026, as Patriot Day, marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed 2,977 people and calling on Americans to preserve the memory of the victims for future generations.
In a proclamation issued Sept. 9, Trump said the passage of
a quarter-century must not diminish the significance of the attacks and urged
Americans to renew the commitment to “Never Forget.”
“Amid the ashes of Ground Zero, we made a solemn vow to
Never Forget — a vow that must be renewed in every American heart, taught in
every classroom, and honored in every community across our land,” Trump said.
The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks involved four hijacked
commercial airplanes. American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade
Center’s North Tower in New York at 8:46 a.m., followed 17 minutes later by
United Airlines Flight 175 striking the South Tower.
Both towers collapsed later that morning, killing thousands
of people and causing widespread destruction.
At 9:37 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the
Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing members of the U.S. military and
civilian employees.
Passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 learned about
the attacks through cellphone calls and attempted to take control of the
aircraft from the hijackers. The plane crashed into a field near Shanksville,
Pennsylvania, before reaching its intended target in Washington.
Trump praised the passengers of Flight 93, as well as police
officers, firefighters, emergency workers, medical personnel and volunteers who
responded to the attacks.
“Yet amid the wreckage and carnage of that day, the world
witnessed the courage, valor, and patriotism of America,” Trump said.
He said thousands of emergency responders worked to rescue
people trapped in the rubble and evacuate residents from lower Manhattan. He
also recognized first responders who continue to suffer from serious health
conditions linked to their work after the attacks.
Trump said the attacks brought Americans together and led
thousands of people to join the U.S. armed forces in the years that followed.
“For nearly a quarter century, an entire generation of
warriors served, fought, and sacrificed in defense of our freedom,” he said.
“Many gave their last full measure of devotion, and countless others returned
home bearing the seen and unseen wounds of war.”
Trump said the attacks demonstrated that the United States
could not rely solely on its geographic isolation to protect the homeland.
As president, he said he would continue to prioritize
national security and maintain a foreign policy based on what he described as
“peace through strength.”
“I will never hesitate to protect our country by enforcing a
foreign policy of peace through strength, bringing swift justice to our enemies
wherever they hide, and vigorously defending our national security interests at
home and abroad,” Trump said.
He also warned that the ideology and hatred behind the Sept.
11 attacks still exist and called for continued vigilance against threats to
the United States.
“We must defend our sovereignty, our values, and our sacred
birthright to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” he said.
Under a joint resolution approved by Congress in December
2001, Sept. 11 is designated as Patriot Day.
Trump called on U.S. government departments and agencies to
fly the American flag at half-staff on Sept. 11, 2026, in honor of the victims.
He also invited governors, U.S. territories, organizations and individuals to
participate in the observance.
“We will never forget the 2,977 precious lives taken from
us,” Trump said. “We will always cherish their memories, and we will forever
hold their families in the enduring embrace of our nation.”
