Lower Manhattan garden to mark 25 years since 9/11

The Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden in Hanover Square will hold a free public remembrance ceremony on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. EDT to mark the 25th anniversary of the attacks. The event will bring together bereaved families, first responders, Commonwealth representatives and civic leaders for bells, silence, wreath-style tributes and remarks.

Why it matters: - The ceremony marks 25 years since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks with a public gathering focused on remembrance, grief and international solidarity. - The event underscores the Garden’s role as a memorial for British and Commonwealth victims and as a place where families, first responders and diplomats can gather in Lower Manhattan. - Organizers say the observance honors people from more than 90 nations who were killed or affected by the attacks.

What happened: - The Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden will host a free public remembrance ceremony at 10 a.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 11, in Hanover Square, Lower Manhattan. - The program is open to the public and will be standing-room only, with no seating. - Bereaved families, senior Commonwealth representatives, first responders, serving military personnel and civic leaders are expected to attend. - The Garden is administered by the nonprofit British Memorial Garden Trust Inc.

The details: - Bagpipes begin at 10:10 a.m. - At 10:28 a.m., a bell toll and moment of silence will mark the collapse of the North Tower. - At 11:10 a.m., families, Garden directors, first responders, military personnel and diplomatic representatives will lay white roses, accompanied by the Edmonton Police Service Pipes and Drums Band. - At 11:14 a.m., a second bell and moment of silence will honor those who died or continue to suffer from 9/11-related illnesses and injuries. - The program includes remarks from Chris Elmore MP, Sir Christian Turner KCMG, Canadian Consul General Susannah Pierce and Australian Consul-General Heather Ridout AO. - Soprano Amber Evans will perform the national anthems of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. - Father Luigi Gioia of St. Thomas Church will lead a reflection and prayer. - Pipe Major Mick Burgess will deliver a piper’s tribute. - Jose Camacho, Toronto Police Service (Ret.), will lead a first-responder remembrance. - Media should check in with Luke Parker Bowles and arrive by 9 a.m. for setup. - On-site interviews may be arranged before and immediately after the ceremony, and remote interviews are available at short notice. - A full set of spokesperson biographies and interview availability is available in the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden Media Package.

Between the lines: - The ceremony blends official diplomacy with personal loss, which keeps the event framed as both a memorial and a public statement about shared history. - The lineup of British, Canadian and Australian officials reflects the Garden’s Commonwealth identity and its wider international message. - The repeated references to unity, duty and remembrance show the event is meant to connect the attacks to ongoing community memory, not just a historical anniversary.

What's next: - The observance will take place Friday morning in Hanover Square. - Organizers expect the Garden to remain a place of reflection, connection and hope in New York’s Financial District. - The Garden’s media package will guide interview requests and spokesperson access around the event.

The bottom line: - The 25th-anniversary ceremony aims to turn a small Lower Manhattan memorial into a shared public moment of remembrance for families, responders and international partners.