Three Navy Warships Carry 9/11 Legacy Sharing One Enduring Mission

Sept. 14, 2026 | By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Luke Wilson, Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic |

Across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, three U.S. Navy warships carry an enduring physical and symbolic connection to Sept. 11, 2001.

The amphibious transport dock ships USS New York, USS Arlington and USS Somerset were commissioned to honor the victims, first responders and service members of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Today, all three operate as frontline assets, turning national remembrance into operational readiness and global deterrence. 

Homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, the USS New York maintains a direct physical link to Ground Zero. Its bow incorporates 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center and melted at the Amite Foundry in Louisiana during construction. Throughout the ship, artifacts and memorial tributes remind the crew of the vessel's namesake purpose during daily evolutions. 

"USS New York wasn't built to just memorialize the events of 9/11," said Navy Capt. John Meise, commanding officer of the USS New York. "It was built to fight and win ... to take the fight to the enemy and keep our family and friends safe at home." 

Stationed pier-side in Norfolk alongside the New York, sister ship the USS Arlington honors the 184 victims killed when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon. Unlike its sister ships, the Arlington's steel was not cast into the ship's forward structure. Instead, the ship preserves and displays recovered structural steel and artifacts from the Pentagon in its museum and tribute spaces, alongside artifacts gifted by Arlington County first responders. 

"You're standing on board a $1 billion warship dedicated to the memory of the 184 people lost in that incident," said Navy Command Master Chief Steve Williams, assigned to the USS Arlington. "When you go to our tribute room and see the murals around the ship, it puts it in perspective that this is real. We carry on the memory, and we fight the fight so that we can stay safe." 

On the West Coast, the USS Somerset is homeported in San Diego. The ship honors the 40 passengers and crew of United Flight 93 who fought back against hijackers over Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The Somerset's bow was cast with approximately 22 tons of steel recovered from the dragline bucket that stood near the crash site. Inscribed inside the ship's memorial room are the names of all 40 victims. 

"The names of the heroes of Flight 93 live on this ship," said Navy Capt. Will Carr, commanding officer of the USS Somerset. "As long as this ship sails forth, it will be a testament to the heroism, to the memory, and to the example America received that day of just how strong our country and its people are." 

Twenty-five years after the attacks on New York City, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the memory of the 2,977 lives lost remains an active, daily reminder aboard these warships. Deployed wherever the nation calls across the globe, the crews of the New York, the Arlington and the Somerset carry the sacrifice, courage and resolve of that morning into every mission — ensuring that the nation's promise never to forget is upheld through unwavering service and fleet readiness.

Military Commissions Media Invitation Announced for United States v. Encep Nurjaman Pre-Trial Hearing

Sept. 14, 2026 |

The Department of War invites media to cover pre-trial proceedings November 16-20, 2026 for Encep Nurjaman, who has been charged in connection with his alleged role in the 2002 and 2003 bombings in Indonesia.

The proceedings will occur at the Expeditionary Legal Complex located in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) Cuba and will be transmitted to a closed-circuit television (CCTV) site at Fort Meade, Md.

Media choosing to travel to NSGB will pay round-trip airfare ($800); coverage window is determined by flight schedule. Specific ground rules for coverage at NSGB will follow registration.

The primary purpose of this invitation is to cover the military commissions. Tours of the detention facilities are not available. Requests for reporting on Guantanamo topics unrelated to the military commissions — such as the naval base facilities or personnel — must be coordinated in advance through the respective public officers with authority over those topics. OMC public affairs can provide point of contact information as needed.

Coverage window, including travel: 

•  November 14-21

Registration: Click here for registration and select the appropriate case and dates as outlined above.

Deadline: All requests must be received no later than noon Monday, September 21, 2026. Additional details of travel preparations will be provided separately. By submitting the online request form, interested media will begin the travel process and respective OMC PAO will assist in travel preparations. 

CCTV Site: Media choosing to view the hearing, from the media-designated viewing site at Fort Meade, Md., must send requests via email to osd.mc-alex.OMC.mbx.omc-pa@mail.mil with e-mail subject line matching the court case and the following information: name, position, news organization and contact information.

Contact Mr. Ronald Flesvig, OMC Public Affairs, for additional questions at ronald.flesvig2.civ@mail.mil or (571) 372-3713. 

Case information can be viewed at the Office of Military Commissions website: https://www.mc.mil

Fort Leonard Wood Soldier Reflects on Enlisting After 9/11 Attacks

Sept. 10, 2026 | By Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office |

Inspired to act in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, a Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, soldier turned national heartbreak into a career of dedicated service.

Before commanding the 58th Transportation Battalion, Army Lt. Col. Julie Kendrick's transportation career was already underway; on 9/11, she was a 23-year-old college student working for American Eagle Airlines.

She went to school during the day while working nights at Killeen Regional Airport in Killeen, Texas.

"I was getting ready to leave our house for class and I was watching the news when the anchors announced what they thought was an accident in New York. A plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers," Kendrick said.

While driving to school, her radio broke the news: a second plane had struck the South Tower.

"I remember thinking that doesn't sound right. It was complete gridlock in Killeen, and I couldn't make it through the traffic, so I turned around and went back home," Kendrick said.

Once home, she turned on the television and watched the devastation unfold.

Describing her colleagues as a tight-knit unit, Kendrick said she felt an immediate pull to report to work early and stand by them, long before her scheduled shift began.

"I really didn't know what to do, so I put on my uniform and went to work," she recalled.

Her duties included assisting with passenger boarding, managing baggage logistics and ensuring aircraft and tarmac security.

When she arrived at the airport, there was nowhere to park, passengers packed the terminal entrance and aircraft were grounded along the flight line.

"Everybody there was in a state of shock," Kendrick said. "American Eagle started working through American Airlines' protocols."

American Eagle is the regional brand name owned by American Airlines to operate regional feeder flights connecting midsized cities to American Airlines' primary hubs — two of the four planes hijacked on 9/11 were American Airlines flights.

"We had two airplanes on the ground," she said, and airline staff had to seal plane entrances with tamper evident tape and enforce around-the-clock physical security on the ramp.

"I felt like I was doing what little I could to help at that time," Kendrick said.

After the attacks, watching from the tarmac was no longer enough for her. She traded in her airline uniform for U.S. Army camouflage — stepping forward to enlist as a unit supply specialist and fuel the fight from the front lines.

"It was a calling I felt. I had to do my part," Kendrick said.

By 2003, she was in Kuwait supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"Being there made me feel like I was doing my part," she said. "I put 100% into doing whatever small part I could to contribute."

Kendrick said she has felt the calling to serve others for as long as she can remember, rooted in her upbringing on her family's farm.

"I had a lot of work ethic instilled in me. My parents taught me that success through hard work often takes a team and I had to do my part," Kendrick said.

A quarter-century after the attacks, Kendrick stands firmly behind the path she chose.

"I am proud of the decision I made to join."

Steel and Stone: Army Corps of Engineers Reflects on 9/11 25 Years Later

Sept. 10, 2026 |Pentagon News |

The Army and the Army Corps of Engineers mobilized with speed and purpose to support recovery efforts at the Pentagon and at the World Trade Center in New York City following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. 

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the tragedy, the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, opened "Steel and Stone: Engineering the Response to 9/11." The new exhibit, also available online, includes oral histories and artifacts that historians collected after the attacks. It chronicles what the Army and the Corps of Engineers did in the minutes, days and months following the tragedy to help the nation rebuild. eering solutions for the nation's toughest challenges,'" said John Lonnquest, chief historian for the Army Corps of Engineers.  

"The government can do hard things. The Corps of Engineers and the Army can do hard things. And together, the Army and the nation and its populace got through that really tough day, and we're stronger and certainly wiser for it," he said.

National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Temporary Closure

Sept. 10, 2026 |

The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial will be temporarily closed to the public from 3 a.m. through 12 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 11, with the exception of any victim's families, survivors, or survivor's families, in support of the 25th Anniversary 9/11 Observance Ceremony. 

Surviving family members of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the Pentagon who would like to visit the memorial during this time are encouraged to contact the Pentagon Special Events Office.

For questions, please contact Pentagon Press Operations at OSD.PA.DutyOfficer@mail.mil.

Airman Runs 2,977 Miles Honoring 9/11 Victims

 

Sept. 9, 2026 | By Airman 1st Class Nelvis Sera, Air University Public Affairs |

At Fort Rucker, Alabama, Air Force Capt. Hanna Born trains the next generation of rotary-wing aviators in the TH-1H training helicopter. Outside the cockpit, she is leading a personal mission to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks by running 2,977 miles — one mile for each person killed that day.

Born, an instructor pilot assigned to the 23rd Flying Training Squadron, launched the effort on Sept. 11, 2025, with the goal of carrying their stories forward to the 25th anniversary of the attacks. 
 
Her connection to 9/11 is personal. She and her younger sister were inside the Pentagon Child Development Center when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building.

"We were safely evacuated and reunited with our family, which is an outcome thousands of others never received," Born said. "We've always felt a deep obligation to honor the lives and families who were not as fortunate." 
 
With each mile, she shares a victim's name and story on social media, ensuring the lives behind the numbers are remembered. 
 
"I want to make sure people hear their names," Born said. "Not just the number; the people." 

Service runs deep in the Born family. 

Her mother, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Dana H. Born, graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1983 and served in senior leadership roles throughout her 30-year career, including dean of the faculty at the academy. Her father, retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tim Born, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1975 and served 21 years on active duty. 
 
Both daughters followed their parents into military service. Hanna Born graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2020, and her younger sister, Marine Corps 1st Lt. Heather Born, graduated from the Naval Academy in 2023, and now serves as a communications strategy officer assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa, Japan. 
 
Growing up in a military community helped shape the family's sense of purpose. 
 
"We were surrounded by people who were committed to something greater than themselves," Born said. "That environment makes you want to contribute in the same way." 
 
Running has long been part of her life. Raised in Colorado, Born developed a love for the sport at an early age, influenced by her parents. Over time, running became more than physical training and took on deeper meaning. She also recognized that many of the airmen she trains today were not yet born when the attacks occurred. 
 
"I wanted to do something honoring our promise to never forget — not just once a year every September, but every day — and something that could be shared with the younger generation," Born said. "Even though they were not here to have memories of 9/11, they have never known a world untouched by its impact." 
 
Her first organized run took place Sept. 11, 2025, with members of her squadron at Fort Rucker. About 30 airmen gathered before morning flight operations to run 9.11 miles together in remembrance. Since then, the effort has expanded beyond the squadron, reaching a global audience of participants who follow her progress and dedicate miles of their own through social media. 

"To memorialize every person who lost their lives during what was such a devastating moment for our nation is a great commitment to undertake," said Air Force 2nd Lt. Mackenzie Lucas, an undergraduate helicopter training student assigned to the 23rd Flying Training Squadron. "Capt. Born's actions highlight the greater purpose we all have — in military training or not — to support our nation and care for those around us." 
 
Balancing the project with the responsibilities of being an instructor pilot has not always been easy for Born. 
 
"The time management can be challenging," she said. "But the miles themselves are the easy part. I want to run them for the person I'm honoring and for their loved ones who still feel the weight of their loss." 
 
Born said she often reflects on the individuals who helped evacuate children from the Pentagon Child Development Center that morning. 
 
"They were unsung heroes," she said. "They saw what was happening and stepped in without hesitation, never seeking recognition. We still don't even know their names." 
 
That example continues to guide how she trains her students today. 
 
"Above all, it highlights the passion aviators, service members and Americans alike have to honor those who have fallen during our darkest moments," Lucas said. "Capt. Born has inspired me to embody service before self in and out of uniform, as she has for countless others." 

Born said the running project was never about athletic achievement but about honoring lives and keeping a promise alive for a new generation. 
 
"I hope people understand the promise to ‘never forget' is still being carried forward," she said. "For any larger purpose you care about, there's always a way to share it and make an impact." 
 
For Born, that impact is measured one mile at a time: 
 
2,977 miles. 
2,977 names. 
2,977 lives. 
 
And the promise to never forget.

Army Garrison Prepares for Milestone 9/11 Commemoration

Sept. 8, 2026 | By Anna Ciccotti, U.S. Army Garrison Italy |

A quarter of a century after the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, U.S. Army Garrison Italy soldiers, military police and firefighters will gather alongside local Italian officials in Padua, Italy, for a solemn 25th anniversary commemoration at the Memory and Light memorial.

"Returning to [Padua] for this milestone 25th anniversary observance will allow us to pay tribute to the lives lost and honor the enduring strength of our alliance," said Army Col. Vaughn D. Strong Jr., U.S. Army Garrison Italy commander. "Our soldiers and firemen look forward to standing together with our Italian partners to ensure the legacy of that day is never forgotten."

Designed by Daniel Libeskind, the world renowned architect behind the ground zero master plan in New York City, the memorial features a 55-foot glass structure shaped like an open book, its "pages" pointing directly toward New York and the Statue of Liberty. Enclosed within the glass is a 19-foot twisted steel beam recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, one of Europe's most poignant physical ties to the site.

For leaders, the anniversary underscores the shared values that bind American and Italian first responders.

"Having this piece of ground zero right here in Veneto, just down the road from where we serve at Caserma Ederle and Del Din, is profoundly meaningful," said Luca Giaretta, deputy fire chief for USAG Italy fire and emergency services. "It serves as a physical touchstone connecting our local Italian community with our American military colleagues, reminding us why our daily partnership and joint readiness matter so much."

Harold R. Persons, fire chief for USAG Italy fire and emergency services, emphasized the depth of that connection.

"We are deeply appreciative of [the local fire department] for their continuous efforts to memorialize and show their respect for not only the 343 firefighters, but all 412 emergency workers and the 2,753 civilians who lost their lives in the horrific attack at the World Trade Center," he said. "Sharing in this annual remembrance ceremony with our fellow firefighters, police and other emergency responders at the memorial site in [Padua] honors the sacrifice of those who gave their lives attempting to save others."

As the decades pass, ceremonies at the memorial take on new significance for younger generations of military members and firefighters who were not yet born in 2001.

Army Lt. Col. Jonathan Kuhn, provost marshal and director of garrison emergency services, highlighted how the milestone bridges the past and future for today's service members.

"Marking 25 years at the 9/11 monument reminds today's military police, soldiers and first responders that our mission is rooted in sacrifice, vigilance and service to something larger than ourselves," he said. "For those serving now, it is both a tribute to those who answered the call after 9/11 and a renewed commitment to protecting our communities with professionalism, discipline and readiness."

Kuhn added that standing side by side with Italian partners sends a clear message to the local community.

"I hope they see a shared commitment to remembrance, resilience and service," he said. "American and Italian crews standing side by side at the monument sends a simple message: tragedy can cross borders, but so can solidarity, partnership and the duty to stand together in its aftermath."

Ultimately, the commemoration ensures that the standard set on 9/11 endures. As Kuhn noted, "Ceremonies like this help make sure 9/11 is not just something younger firefighters read about but something they feel connected to as part of their professional identity. They reinforce that duty, sacrifice and service to others are not abstract ideals; they are the standard we inherit and the one we are responsible for carrying forward."

Military Commissions Media Invitation Announced for United States v. Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri Trial

Sept. 4, 2026 |

The Department of War invites media to cover the military commission trial of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the defendant charged in the attack on the USS Cole (DDG 67). The trial is scheduled to begin October 19, 2026.

The proceedings will take place at the Expeditionary Legal Complex located on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB), Cuba, and will be transmitted to closed-circuit television (CCTV) sites at Ft. Meade, Md.

Media may choose to travel to NSGB if agreeable to the coverage windows outlined below and are willing to pay associated flight fees. The hearing coverage windows are determined by the flight schedule, which is Saturday to Saturday. Specific ground rules for coverage at NSGB will follow registration.

The primary purpose of this invitation is to cover the military commissions trial. Tours of the detention facilities are not available. Requests for reporting on Guantanamo topics unrelated to the trial must be coordinated in advance through the public affairs officer with authority over those topics. OMC Public Affairs can provide point of contact information as needed.

Due to the expected duration of the trial, proceedings will occur in multiple sessions. Initial coverage windows, including travel:

• Oct. 17 – 24
• Oct. 24 - 31
• Oct. 31 – Nov. 7
• Nov. 7 – 14
• Nov. 14 - 21

Additional coverage windows will be announced as the trial schedule progresses, and dates are subject to change based on trial progression.

Media may request to stay for more than one week or any combination of weeks.

Registration: Click here for registration and select the appropriate case and dates as outlined above.

Deadline: All requests for the initial trial sessions must be received no later than noon, Friday, September 11. Additional details of travel preparations will be provided separately. By submitting the online request form, interested media will begin the travel process, and the OMC Public Affairs will assist in travel preparations

CCTV Site: Media choosing to view the hearing, from the media-designated viewing sites at Fort Meade, Md., or Naval Station Norfolk, Va., must send requests via email to osd.mc-alex.OMC.mbx.omc-pa@mail.mil with e-mail subject line matching the court case and the following information: name, position, news organization and contact information.

Contact Mr. Ronald Flesvig, OMC Public Affairs, for additional questions at ronald.flesvig2.civ@mail.mil or (571) 372-3713.

Case information can be viewed at the Office of Military Commissions website: https://www.mc.mil

Sept. 4, 2026 |

The Department of War invites media to cover the military commission trial of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the defendant charged in the attack on the USS Cole (DDG 67). The trial is scheduled to begin October 19, 2026.

The proceedings will take place at the Expeditionary Legal Complex located on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB), Cuba, and will be transmitted to closed-circuit television (CCTV) sites at Ft. Meade, Md.

Media may choose to travel to NSGB if agreeable to the coverage windows outlined below and are willing to pay associated flight fees. The hearing coverage windows are determined by the flight schedule, which is Saturday to Saturday. Specific ground rules for coverage at NSGB will follow registration.

The primary purpose of this invitation is to cover the military commissions trial. Tours of the detention facilities are not available. Requests for reporting on Guantanamo topics unrelated to the trial must be coordinated in advance through the public affairs officer with authority over those topics. OMC Public Affairs can provide point of contact information as needed.

Due to the expected duration of the trial, proceedings will occur in multiple sessions. Initial coverage windows, including travel:

• Oct. 17 – 24
• Oct. 24 - 31
• Oct. 31 – Nov. 7
• Nov. 7 – 14
• Nov. 14 - 21

Additional coverage windows will be announced as the trial schedule progresses, and dates are subject to change based on trial progression.

Media may request to stay for more than one week or any combination of weeks.

Registration: Click here for registration and select the appropriate case and dates as outlined above.

Deadline: All requests for the initial trial sessions must be received no later than noon, Friday, September 11. Additional details of travel preparations will be provided separately. By submitting the online request form, interested media will begin the travel process, and the OMC Public Affairs will assist in travel preparations

CCTV Site: Media choosing to view the hearing, from the media-designated viewing sites at Fort Meade, Md., or Naval Station Norfolk, Va., must send requests via email to osd.mc-alex.OMC.mbx.omc-pa@mail.mil with e-mail subject line matching the court case and the following information: name, position, news organization and contact information.

Contact Mr. Ronald Flesvig, OMC Public Affairs, for additional questions at ronald.flesvig2.civ@mail.mil or (571) 372-3713.

Case information can be viewed at the Office of Military Commissions website: https://www.mc.mil

Media Invitation Announced for United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al. Pre-Trial Hearing

Sept. 4, 2026 |

The Department of War invites media to cover pre-trial proceedings in the case of United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek Bin 'Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, scheduled for Oct. 19 – Nov. 13, 2026. The defendants are charged in connection with their alleged roles in the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States.

The proceedings will be conducted at the Expeditionary Legal Complex located in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) Cuba and will be transmitted to a closed-circuit television site at Ft. Meade, Md.

Media choosing to travel to NSGB will pay round-trip airfare ($800); coverage window is determined by flight schedule. Specific ground rules for coverage at NSGB will follow registration.

The primary purpose of this invitation is to cover the military commissions. Tours of the detention facilities are not available. Requests for reporting on Guantanamo Bay topics unrelated to the military commissions - such as the naval base facilities or personnel - must be coordinated in advance.

Coverage windows, including travel days:

• Oct. 17 – 24
• Oct. 24 - 31
• Oct. 31 – Nov. 7
• Nov. 7 – 14

Media may elect to attend more than one week.

Registration: Click here for registration. Please select the "Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al" case from the drop-down selection on the registration form. Enter the specific requested dates as outlined above.

Deadline: All requests must be received no later than noon ET, Friday, September 11. Additional details of travel logistics will be provided separately. By submitting the online request form, interested media will begin the travel process, and the Office of Military Commissions (OMC) will contact the media to assist in travel preparation.

CCTV Site: Media desiring to view this hearing from the media-designated viewing site at Fort Meade, Md., must send requests via email to osd.mc-alex.OMC.mbx.omc-pa@mail.mil with e-mail subject line matching the court case and the following information: name, position, news organization and contact information.

Contact Mr. Ron Flesvig, OMC Public Affairs, for additional questions at ronald.flesvig2.civ@mail.mil or (571) 372-3713.

Case information can be viewed at the Office of Military Commissions website: https://www.mc.mil