Columbia residents gathered Friday at the 9/11 memorial outside the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center for a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The event combined moments of remembrance, remarks from leaders and a tribute to local service members and emergency personnel who have died since that day.
What changed for attendees
The program began with a sequence of bell tolls designed to represent the moments when the four planes involved in the attacks struck or crashed. Speakers reflected on the personal losses and the broader duty to keep the memory of those events alive for future generations.
Retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Lamont Christian delivered an appeal to the crowd about the meaning of the phrase many associate with the day.
"Never forget, it's not just a slogan, it's not just a phrase, it's a commitment to each other,"
Dawn Yamashiro, who lost her brother in the attacks, described the long process of coming to terms with his death. Her brother worked on the 103rd floor of the North Tower. She said it took weeks to accept that he would not return to his family.
State leaders and local honors
Gov. Henry McMaster attended and urged continued observance of the anniversary in years to come, saying those who recall the attacks must pass the lessons on to those with little or no memory of the day.
Retired U.S. Army Major David Kerr led a recognition of first responders and service members from the Midlands who have died since 2001, emphasizing that every name on the memorial represented a life, a family and a community of colleagues.
- The memorial is located outside the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on Lincoln Street.
- It is open to the public for visitation.
- The ceremony included bell tolling to mark the four aircraft involved in the attacks.
How the ceremony was carried out
| Element | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Bell tolling | To symbolize each of the four aircraft events |
| Speakers | Personal testimony, calls to remember and tributes to fallen responders |
| Public access | Memorial open year-round for visitors |
The event in Columbia reflected wider observances across the country as the nation marks a quarter-century since the attacks. Organizers and officials stressed the importance of ritual and storytelling so future generations understand the human cost and the sacrifices of first responders.
The memorial at the convention center remains available for anyone wishing to pay respects or to reflect on the impact of Sept. 11, 2001, on families and communities in South Carolina and beyond.
— Delia Hayward, South Carolina Correspondent
