09/11/2026
How’s this?
25 years later, we remember 9/11 not only as a day of unimaginable loss, but as a moment that revealed both the profound impact of trauma and the extraordinary capacity of people to come together in its aftermath.
We remember the 2,977 lives lost, the families forever changed, and the survivors who have carried the weight of that day for a quarter of a century.
We also remember those who ran toward the devastation.
In the aftermath, tens of thousands of people came from across the country and around the world to participate in rescue, recovery, and relief efforts. Nearly 1.8 million tons of debris were cleared over the course of a nine-month operation. More than 400,000 people were exposed to the toxic environment created by the collapse and the prolonged recovery effort. Today, more than 140,000 people are enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program, receiving care for conditions connected to 9/11. These numbers tell only part of the story.
There were strangers bringing food and supplies. Communities opening their doors. First responders working around the clock. Mental health professionals supporting survivors, families, and responders. People sitting beside one another in grief, offering comfort when there were no words.
Trauma can change us. It can fracture our sense of safety and leave wounds that remain long after the immediate danger has passed. But healing can happen in connection.
As therapists and trauma-informed professionals, we know that resilience does not mean forgetting, moving on, or being unaffected. Resilience can look like remembering. Reaching for one another. Making space for grief. Finding meaning. And continuing to care for each other, even when the wounds are not visible.
On this 25th anniversary, we pause to remember those we lost, honor those who responded, acknowledge those who continue to live with the consequences, and recognize the extraordinary strength found in community.
We remember. We honor. We heal. Together.
