9/11: WABC's late night newscast on the night of the 2001 attacks in New York City
NEW YORK (WABC) -- "The unthinkable happened today. The World Trade Center, both towers, gone."
With those words, Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter began our 11 p.m. newscast on the day that changed our city, America, and the world.
Even now, so many years later, we will never forget. And we will never stop honoring those who died and the heroic first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice, both at the scene in Lower Manhattan and those who have suffered and died from a 9/11-related illness.
RELATED | 'Eyewitness to 9/11: Behind the Lens' reveals untold stories, rare video of America's darkest day
Each year, New York City and millions around the country commemorate 9/11 with mournful ceremonies, volunteering, and reading the names of those who perished.
Relatives of the victims descend on ground zero in Lower Manhattan, and the events of that terrible day and the weeks, months, and years that followed are never forgotten, nor are the memories of those killed by terrorists in hijacked planes.
RELATED | WABC's late night newscast hours before the 2001 attacks in New York City
September 11 still shapes American policy, politics, and everyday experiences in places from airports to office buildings, even if it's less of a constant presence in the public consciousness.
PHOTOS: 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City
The 9/11 commemorations are by now familiar rituals, but each year at ground zero, victims' relatives infuse the ceremony with personal messages of remembrance, inspiration, and concern.
CLICK HERE for more Eyewitness News reflections, photos and stories marking the anniversary of 9/11
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