Harford Co. Ceremony Marks 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 Terror Attacks

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Communities across Maryland will pause Friday to mark 25 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, with ceremonies honoring the nearly 3,000 people who were killed and the first responders who risked, and, in many cases, later lost their lives.

On Sept. 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four airplanes, flying two into New York City's World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. Passengers fought back on the fourth, United Flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The deadliest U.S. terror attack killed 2,977 victims.

Larger observances will be held at the three sites in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, attacked 25 years ago.

A memorial on Sept. 11 in Harford County will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Harford County Fairgrounds Equestrian Center on Tollgate Road in Bel Air.

The memorial will include a procession of firetrucks representing the county’s volunteer fire companies, along with emergency and police vehicles. Musical performances at the memorial will be provided by students from Havre de Grace High School.

“Harford County will never forget all those who were lost, the families who still miss them and the heroes of 9/11 who ran toward danger to protect their fellow citizens,” Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said. “Especially in America’s 250th year, I encourage residents to join us, whether in person or in spirit, to remember the victims of these terrible attacks 25 years ago and to honor the endurance of our great nation.”

Two residents of Harford County died on Sept. 11:

Staff Sgt. Willie Q. Troy, 51, who lived at Aberdeen Proving Ground, was among the more than 100 military and civilian personnel who died at the Pentagon. His wife worked at the proving ground, and he worked at the Pentagon, getting up at 4:15 a.m. daily so he could take the MARC train to work, according to the Pentagon Memorial. Troy was at the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed at 9:37 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001. All 64 people aboard perished.

Joseph V. Maggitti, 49, of Abingdon, died in the attack on the World Trade Center. He was there for a business meeting at the headquarters of his employer, Marsh McLennan, which created a memorial for the 358 employees lost that day. It took a week for Maggitti's body to be recovered, according to the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which reported he had been on the 94th floor of the North Tower. His daughter was a freshman at the John Carroll School at the time.

The toll has continued to grow. Thousands of survivors, first responders and people who lived, worked or attended school near the attack sites have developed cancers and other illnesses linked to toxic exposure during the rescue, recovery and cleanup.

The 15th annual 9/11 Patriot Day Ride will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 12. The Patriot Day Ride brings together hundreds of motorcyclists and community members to remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks. The event includes moments of silence marking key events from 9/11, a reading of the names of Marylanders killed in the attacks and a 29-mile police-escorted ride. The event will be held at the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company station, 2600 Castleton Road, in Darlington. Proceeds benefit America's 9/11 Living Classroom.

The Rock to Remember 9/11 United Concert will be held Sept. 12 from 4 to 11 p.m. at Barrel House Live in Fallston. The concert will feature performances from local bands, as well as Maryland's 9/11 Rolling Memorial, a Towers in Light display and artifacts connected to Sept. 11.

Former Presidents At Ground Zero

As is traditional, the names of the 2,977 people killed in the 9/11 attacks and six others who died in the 1993 World Trade Center attack will be read at a ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Manhattan.

Four former presidents — Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton — are expected to attend the 25th-anniversary ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial in New York City.

President Donald Trump is not expected at Ground Zero. Vice President JD Vance will represent the administration in New York.

The ceremony will be livestreamed. That evening, the annual Tribute in Light will send twin beams into the sky, accompanied this year by a one-hour national broadcast beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic and ABC News Live.

Trump At Pentagon Observance

Trump will attend the 9/11 observance at the Pentagon, where 184 people were killed when American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked and flown into the structure

Defense and military leaders traditionally gather for a ceremony centered on the memorial’s 184 illuminated benches, one for each victim. Details about public access to the Pentagon ceremony and a possible livestream had not yet been posted on the Pentagon Memorial’s official webpage on Tuesday.

Pennsylvania Memorial Details

The Flight 93 National Memorial, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, begins with an 8:30 a.m. ceremony that includes the reading of the 40 passengers’ and crew members’ names, the Bells of Remembrance, and wreath-layings timed to the four attacks.

A second ceremony begins at 1 p.m., and both will be livestreamed. A luminaria ceremony is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12.

Stephen M. Clark, the superintendent of the Flight 93 National Memorial, will lead the morning remembrance events. Confirmed speakers at the afternoon ceremony include Gordie Felt, the brother of Flight 93 passenger Edward P. Felt, and Capt. Morrie Wiener (Ret.), the pilot who flew Flight 93 prior to September 2001.

Trump administration officials are expected to attend and lay wreaths on behalf of the federal government, though top executive leaders are split across other national sites.

‘Steel Across America’

Trump hosted first responders and FDNY officials at the White House on Tuesday ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The event featured a 16,900-pound steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center’s South Tower and carried across the country by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit created in memory of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who was killed responding to the attacks.

The foundation provides mortgage-free and specially adapted homes to families of fallen or severely injured first responders and military members, assists homeless veterans and supports 9/11 education and remembrance programs. Its 10,500-mile “Steel Across America” tour has taken the beam to more than 35 cities in at least 21 states and will conclude Friday at Ground Zero.