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Today, President Donald J. Trump stood with first responders, Gold Star families, and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to honor the Americans who ran toward the fire on September 11, 2001. At his side was a 21-foot steel beam recovered from the wreckage of the South Tower — carried more than 10,500 miles on Tunnel to Towers’ Steel Across America tour as a living reminder of the courage that rose from the ruins and our duty to Never Forget.

President Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Welles Crowther, the 24-year-old equities trader remembered as the “Man in the Red Bandana”: “After the plane hit the South Tower, a group of people on the 78th floor were trapped with broken bones, charred skin and eyes, and lungs filled with black smoke. Death was all about them; it was certain. They were sure they were going to die. Then suddenly, a rescuer appeared. They call him the ‘Man in the Red Bandana.’” (Watch)
Welles’s mother, Alison, and sister, Paige, accepted the Medal on his behalf: “This means the world to me, my daughters, Paige and Honor, and our entire family. This will be treasured for generations to come.” (Watch)
President Trump announced that the U.S. Coast Guard will commission a new Fast Response Cutter in memory of FDNY firefighter and Coast Guard reservist Jeffrey Palazzo — one of the 343 firefighters killed on 9/11: “Before September 11, he had already saved many lives… Him and the other members of Rescue Squad 5 died at the World Trade Center while fighting to rescue fellow New Yorkers.” (Watch)
“On 9/11, nearly 3,000 precious souls were stolen from us — killed by evil terrorists at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on Flight 93. All of these years later, we gather on another Tuesday morning in September to reaffirm the sacred vow we made a quarter of a century ago: we will never forget.” (Watch)
“In just over 100 minutes, 175,000 tons of steel and concrete were reduced to ruin and 3,000 lives were extinguished… This battered piece of steel here today on the Ellipse is a reminder that America is blessed with a strength no fire can consume, no evil can conquer, and no terror can destroy.” (Watch)
“The 16,000-pound beam lifted from the wreckage of the South Tower will forever testify to the courage and resilience and spirit of a city and a nation that saw our homeland struck, our towers knocked down and stood back up stronger, more determined, and more united than ever before… When we see the steel, we’re reminded that no matter what threat or challenge comes our way, America will fight, America will endure, and America will prevail.” (Watch)
“For the past few months, Tunnel to Towers has taken this steel across the nation to remind Americans of what we overcame that day and what our heroes did… On September 11, 23 members of the New York Police Department, 37 members of the Port Authority Police, three Court officers, and 343 members of the New York Fire Department made the ultimate sacrifice.” (Watch)

On Friday, the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance will visit the sites of the attacks to join the nation in remembering the heroes of that day and honoring the families who still bear that loss.

America will Never Forget.