Sam Pulia, left, Willow Springs, Ill., police chief, places flags on the bronze parapets at the 9/11 Memorial on the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on Wednesday in New York City. (Pamela Smith/AP)
The nation on Wednesday marked the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in solemn ceremonies held in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Somerset County, Pa.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed after al-Qaida terrorists hijacked three commercial planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth hijacked plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers staged a midair revolt.
Three moments of silence were observed in New York on Wednesday to mark when the first jet hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m., the second crashed into the South Tower 17 minutes later, and a third rammed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m.
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In a ceremony in New York City, Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance all stood together to mark the tragic event.
From left: Vice President Kamala Harris, President Biden, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance attend a remembrance ceremony on the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City on Wednesday. (Adam Gray/AFP via Getty Images)
People visit the 9/11 Memorial in New York City on Wednesday. (Adam Gray/AFP via Getty Images)
People gather outside the 9/11 Memorial site for a moment of silence on Wednesday. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Members of the military and first responders watch as an American flag is unfurled at the Pentagon to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
A woman places photos of a relative on the 9/11 Memorial. (Adam Gray/AFP via Getty Images)
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris participate in a Flight 93 wreath-laying ceremony in Shanksville, Pa. (Andrew Cabellero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, left, and Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance at the 9/11 Memorial ceremony. (Yuki Iwamura/AP)
Roses are left next to the names of victims on the North Tower Memorial Pool. (Adam Gray/AFP via Getty Images)
People gather at the 9/11 Memorial site. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
U.S. service members place roses on the memorial benches at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday. (Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)
Mercedes Arias stands by the name of her father Joseph Amatuccio along the south reflection pool during the 9/11 Memorial ceremony in New York City on Wednesday. (Yuki Iwamura/AP)
The names of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks are read during a remembrance ceremony in New York City on Wednesday. (NeKena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)
A picture of a woman who died during the 9/11 attacks in New York City. (Kent J. Edwards/Reuters)
A family member of a victim of the 9/11 attacks attends a ceremony marking the 23rd anniversary of the attacks. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pauses after placing a wreath at the start of the 9/11 memorial ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (Kevin Wolf/AP)
A photo is part of the commemoration of the victims of the 9/11 attacks in New York City. (Kent J. Edwards/Reuters)
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani observes a moment of silence during a ceremony marking the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York City. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
The site of the 9/11 Memorial. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
