The 9/11 (2001) attacks claimed the lives of 2,977 people, including passengers and crew on the four planes, civilians and military personnel at the Pentagon, and those in the World Trade Center towers.
Among the victims were 412 first responders, including 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers, who rushed into the burning buildings to save others. In the years that followed, many more first responders and survivors have died from illnesses related to their exposure to toxic dust and debris at Ground Zero.
Commemorations on the anniversary often include moments of silence, the reading of victims' names, and ceremonies at the three attack sites. The day has also been officially designated as Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance, encouraging people to engage in charitable works and acts of kindness in honor of the victims and the spirit of unity that emerged in the attacks' aftermath.
