The president and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Elizabeth L. Hillman, has underscored the enduring significance of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday this year. In an interview, Hillman noted that the convergence of the nation's semiquincentennial with the 25th anniversary of the attacks offers a unique opportunity to reflect on how the tragedy shaped modern America. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives when hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on that day.
Hillman stressed that it is more important than ever to educate younger generations about the events of 9/11, as many Americans were either born after the attacks or were too young to remember them. She warned that without deliberate efforts to preserve the memory, the nation risks losing the lessons of that day. «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 museum, located at the rebuilt World Trade Center site, serves as a testament to resilience and recovery. Hillman described it as «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.» She emphasized that the recovery after 9/11 demonstrates that even in the face of immense loss, communities can persevere and rebuild. «I think everyone's hungry for evidence that we can survive things that are difficult,» she added. «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.»
This year, the museum opened a new exhibition titled «Our Flag Was Still There,» which features flags, artifacts, and photographs that tell stories of resilience from first responders, veterans, and Americans who lived through the attacks. Among the items on display are the Ground Zero flag raised by FDNY firefighters, the flag draped over the Pentagon by soldiers and firefighters, a flag raised over the last column of the South Tower, and one carried during the mission that killed Usama bin Laden. Hillman noted that the exhibition highlights how the flag became a powerful symbol of healing and unity after 9/11. «It reveals how important the flag was in the healing and the coming together that happened after 9/11,» she said.
Hillman also reflected on the broader context of the anniversary, noting that commemorating 9/11 is especially relevant at a time when the nation faces divisions. «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,» she said. On July 4, the museum will place an American flag at each victim's name on the memorial, recognizing the flag's role as a symbol of the country's birthday and the recovery from the attacks.
Looking ahead, the museum plans to offer free admission to veterans starting in the fall, honoring those who served after 9/11. Hillman said that many people were inspired to join the military in the wake of the attacks, and the museum aims to recognize their contributions. «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,» she said.
The 9/11 attacks remain a defining moment in American history, and the museum's efforts to preserve the memory of that day are part of a broader national reflection as the country marks its 250th anniversary. Hillman's comments underscore the importance of remembering not only the tragedy but also the resilience and unity that followed, offering lessons for future generations.
