It has now been a quarter of a century since the day the world stood still, watching in fear and shock as a coordinated series of attacks on the United States took the lives of nearly 3,000 people. On the morning of September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger airliners and crashed two of them into the World Trade Center in New York City and a third into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was headed toward D.C. when it crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers courageously fought to regain control from the hijackers. These horrific events represent not only the single largest loss of life from a foreign attack on American soil, but also the deadliest incident ever for first responders, causing more law enforcement line-of-duty deaths than any other single event in U.S. history.

After the first plane struck the World Trade Center, first responders rushed to the burning buildings to evacuate the victims, saving an estimated 25,000-plus people. When the towers collapsed, 71 officers from seven local, state and federal agencies were killed, along with 343 firefighters and emergency services personnel and more than 2,500 civilians. A federal law enforcement officer, Richard Guadagno of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was also killed in the crash of United Flight 93. 

But the heroism, and the tragedy, didn’t end there. Over the weeks and months that followed, first responders and volunteers answered the call to participate in rescue, recovery, investigation and cleanup efforts at the crash sites. Those workers were exposed to a host of toxins and pollutants, particularly at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, in the rubble known as “the Pile.” Tens of thousands of 9/11 responders and survivors went on to develop cancer and other illnesses; according to the latest data from the World Trade Center Health Program, 96,200 of its enrolled members have been certified as having at least one WTC-related health condition. The death toll from 9/11 illnesses has now exceeded that from the day of the attacks themselves, including the loss of more than 600 law enforcement officers. 

For years, 9/11 responders, survivors and their families tirelessly advocated for health care and financial compensation to help treat their debilitating health problems. Finally, in 2019, the signing of the Victim Compensation Fund Permanent Reauthorization Act ensured that the federal government would appropriate money to pay all eligible claims until 2090. This sorely needed and deserved resource is a reminder that the repercussions of that single day will continue to be felt for decades to come.

While the 2001 terror attacks remain an indelible experience for many, there are now more than 100 million Americans — and counting — too young to remember the historic day that rocked our country to its core and forever transformed the national security and law enforcement landscape. On this 25th anniversary, it is more important than ever that we preserve the memory and recognize the legacy of 9/11 and the heroes who gave their lives to save others. PORAC mourns all the members of our first responder family we lost that day and afterward, keeps those still suffering the effects of this tragedy in our hearts and thanks all those who have worked diligently ever since to prevent future attacks. We will never forget.