US commemorates 18th anniversary of 9/11

Tributes poured in across the U.S. on Wednesday as the country recognized the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

This week marks 18 years since nearly 3,000 people were killed in coordinated attacks that struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, plunging the U.S. into war in Afghanistan and later Iraq.

{mosads}President Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted a ceremony at the White House that included a moment of silence for the victims of the attacks, while leaders of the House and Senate led a concurrent ceremony at the Capitol.

Video of the event at the Capitol showed lawmakers singing “God Bless America” following the moment of silence.

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in the White House September 11 Remembrance Ceremony. pic.twitter.com/ZUkeH0e34p

— CSPAN (@cspan) September 11, 2019

.@SpeakerPelosi, @GOPLeader and other Members of Congress observe Moment of Silence at @USCapitol and sing God Bless America. #September11 pic.twitter.com/ZiW62iYfP5

— CSPAN (@cspan) September 11, 2019

Flags at the White House and on federal buildings were lowered to half staff Wednesday in honor of the victims.

LIVE: White House flag flies at half-staff on the 18th anniv. of 9/11. https://t.co/OcHbuKKuri

— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 11, 2019

A remembrance ceremony in New York City also featured members of the New York Police Department and other first responders, a nod to the scores of first responders who were sickened or killed attempting to rescue victims at Ground Zero shortly after the attacks.

A moment of silence is held for the victims of 9/11 on the 18th anniversary of the attacks. #NeverForgethttps://t.co/2MbuJKJHVO pic.twitter.com/zDwHqP6dxF

— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 11, 2019

City officials lit up the New York skyline Tuesday night with two beams of light representing the fallen towers, an annual tribute to the landmark.

The future of such practices, however, is unclear following a New York Times report this week that found the beams of light endanger the lives of around 160,000 birds every year during the 9/11 remembrance ceremonies.

The moon passes through the Tribute in Light as it is illuminated over the skyline of lower Manhattan on the eve of the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York City #newyork #newyorkcity #nyc #tributeinlight @Sept11Memorial #neverforget @onewtc @agreatbigcity pic.twitter.com/47PHLrKtCq

— Gary Hershorn (@GaryHershorn) September 11, 2019

A moment of silence is now the Law in New York School Districts in remembrance of 9/11 Should be the law everywhere in the USA #neverforget pic.twitter.com/vh3afjmLfL

— MPD (@MPDCustomGolf) September 11, 2019

Various top administration officials also recognized the 18th anniversary of the attacks on Wednesday.

“9/11 still haunts me. Almost 20 years later, I still reflect on that day & I’m resolved that we’ve got to get counterterrorism right,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted.

Today, our nation pauses to remember and honor those who fell on 9/11. Their memory will always be in the heart of every American and we will never forget the heroism and courage shown on that fateful day. pic.twitter.com/PyG0Aq8Zo0

— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) September 11, 2019

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, the United States lost nearly 3,000 people in the single deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history. This was the worst attack on U.S. soil since Pearl Harbor in 1941. pic.twitter.com/fQYdioNJ0T

— Deputy Secretary of Defense David L. Norquist (@DepSecDef) September 11, 2019