25 years later, 9/11 memories endure as nation gathers to honor nearly 3,000 lives lost

Ceremonies at the 9/11 Memorial in New York, the Pentagon and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania will take place Friday as the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when 19 al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners and attacked the United States.

Officials and others with memories of that day reflected on what they witnessed and what they lost in some cases as the nation mourns anew.

Retired Maj. Gen. Bert Mizusawa, who served...