September 11, 2026 marks 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a day that forever changed our nation. As we reflect on this milestone anniversary, the Advertising Is Simple team looks back on our visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and remembers the lives lost, the heroes who responded, and the unity that followed.
Nearly a decade ago, in August 2017, members of the Advertising Is Simple team traveled from Wilmington, Delaware, to New York City for a team outing that included a visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
It was an experience that has stayed with us. Walking through the Memorial & Museum, seeing the artifacts, hearing the personal stories, and standing beside the Memorial Pools provided a powerful reminder of the magnitude of what happened on September 11, 2001.
25 Years Since September 11, 2001
This September carries even greater significance as our country marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. For those of us who remember that day, it can be difficult to believe that a quarter century has passed. For younger generations, September 11 is something they know primarily through history, photographs, videos, and the stories shared by those who experienced it. That makes continuing to tell those stories more important than ever.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum notes that approximately 100 million Americans today are too young to personally remember September 11, 2001. As the years pass, remembrance also becomes an opportunity to educate future generations about not only the tragedy of that day, but also the extraordinary bravery, compassion, service, and unity demonstrated in its aftermath.
Remembering the Lives Behind the Numbers
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the September 11 attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. Behind every number was a person, a family member, friend, coworker, neighbor, or loved one.
We also remember the first responders who ran toward danger, the countless individuals who helped in the days and months that followed, and those who have continued to suffer or have lost their lives because of 9/11-related illnesses. Twenty-five years later, their stories and sacrifices remain an important part of our nation’s history.
The Importance of Never Forgetting
Looking back at the photos from our AIS visit, we’re reminded why places like the 9/11 Memorial & Museum matter. They preserve history. They tell individual stories. And they give future generations an opportunity to better understand an event that profoundly changed our country and the world. But remembrance doesn’t only happen at a memorial.
It happens when we share stories with our children and grandchildren. It happens when we recognize the sacrifices of first responders and members of our military. And it happens when we remember the sense of community and unity that brought Americans together following one of our country’s darkest days. As we mark 25 years since September 11, 2001, all of us at Advertising Is Simple pause to remember those we lost, honor those who served and sacrificed, and reflect on the strength and unity shown in the days that followed.
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