NEW YORK, NY — New York City is observing the Sept. 11 anniversary with a full day of remembrance that honors those killed, the first responders who rushed into danger and the city’s lasting resilience. The commemorations come in the final hours before the 25th anniversary of the deadliest terror attacks in U.S. history.
From open houses at firehouses and EMS stations to memorial services, charity events and public acts of service, the city is marking the day in ways that are both solemn and forward-looking. Many of the tributes also recognize the long-term health impact on responders who were exposed at Ground Zero and continue to face illness years later.
Firehouses and EMS stations welcome visitors to meet responders
Across the city, firehouses and EMS stations opened their doors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., inviting residents to meet firefighters, EMTs and paramedics. The open houses were designed to give New Yorkers a closer look at the work those agencies do every day, along with a chance to learn about their history.
Those visits fit into a broader effort to connect remembrance of 9/11 with the ongoing work of public safety agencies. The day’s events are not only about looking back at what was lost, but also about acknowledging the people who continue to serve communities across the five boroughs.
For many families and visitors, the chance to speak with first responders adds a personal dimension to the anniversary. It also serves as a reminder that the legacy of Sept. 11 is still present in the city’s emergency services.
State funding is directed toward cancer research for exposed first responders
Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Engine 16/Ladder 7 in Kips Bay to announce that $2 million previously set aside in the state budget is now available for cancer research involving 9/11 first responders. The research is being conducted at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx.
Hochul said the funding is meant as a sign of appreciation for responders who went into the fire and continue to deal with the consequences. FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Daniel Flynn said 452 members who responded to the Trade Center have died from 9/11 illnesses to date.
Researchers say the health toll remains significant. Albert Einstein College of Medicine says more than 4,000 of the 15,000 FDNY World Trade Center-exposed members have cancer, with blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma among the most common.
Doctors say early detection can change outcomes for blood cancer patients
Dr. David Prezant said the goal of the research is to identify people with early signs of blood cancer or those most likely to develop it, since earlier diagnosis can lead to earlier treatment and better survival. He said that among their cancer patients, five-year survival has reached 86% after diagnosis.
Prezant also said the comparison matters when measured against people with the same cancers who were not exposed to the World Trade Center site. In that group, five-year survival is 63%, underscoring the seriousness of the health effects tied to the attacks and their aftermath.
The research adds to a long-running effort in New York to understand and treat illnesses linked to 9/11 exposure. It also highlights how the anniversary is tied not only to memory, but to ongoing medical needs for responders and survivors.
Council action would add memorial co-namings and school curriculum
The New York City Council is expected to vote Thursday on several 9/11-related items, including co-naming 26 thoroughfares and public places to honor lives lost. Lawmakers are also considering a school curriculum intended to teach the legacy of Sept. 11 to students.
Those measures would add a more permanent civic layer to the city’s anniversary observance. Street and place names can serve as everyday reminders, while classroom instruction would help ensure younger generations understand the historical impact of the attacks.
The planned vote reflects how New York continues to weave remembrance into public life. More than two decades later, city leaders are still looking for ways to preserve the stories of victims, families and first responders.
Lower Manhattan’s rebuilding remains part of the day’s message
Sen. Charles Schumer spoke at 7 World Trade, the first commercial office building rebuilt at the site after the attacks, and described the transformation of Lower Manhattan. He pointed to major increases in office space, retail, apartments and population since the disaster.
Schumer said the area now has more than 10 million square feet of office space and half a million square feet of retail. He also said the neighborhood has 37,000 apartments, up from 13,000 before the attacks, and a population of 70,000 compared with 22,000 before the disaster.
His remarks focused on recovery and reinvention as part of the city’s larger response to 9/11. The rebuilt district stands as one of the clearest signs of how Lower Manhattan has changed since the attacks while still carrying their memory.
Bike ride, memorial Mass, meal packing and vigil add personal tributes
Other observances are unfolding across the city and beyond. Nearly 200 bike riders are finishing a 343-mile ride from Boston to Ground Zero, with each mile representing an FDNY member killed on 9/11.
At St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a special memorial Mass is scheduled for 5 p.m. Families who lost loved ones, including those who later died of 9/11-related illnesses, are invited. Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to attend.
Volunteers are also packing meals at the Intrepid for New Yorkers facing food insecurity, and organizers say the four-day effort will produce more than 3 million meals in the city alone. Later, a candlelight vigil is set for the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance in Coney Island, while Madison Square Garden will host a charity comedy benefit.
For Pete Davidson, whose father Scott Davidson was a firefighter killed on Sept. 11, the benefit carries a deeply personal meaning. Together, the day’s events reflect a city still determined to remember, support one another and keep the stories of those lost alive.
