Patriot Day Remembrance: 25 Years Later

Twenty-five years ago, the world changed in a single morning. Today, we pause to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and to honor the first responders, service members, and everyday citizens whose courage defined that day and the years that followed.

David DeMato, a retired Chicago police officer and Navy Reserve officer who worked at Ground Zero, reflected on what he witnessed in the aftermath:

"What is more profound is the way this country came together afterwards. The police officers and firemen were revered as the heroes they truly are; the military was appreciated in a manner not seen in decades; and common people found new meaning in values like friendship, kindness, and selflessness."