Remembrance on the riverfront and in the city center
Federal law enforcement officers, Detroit officials and representatives of the city’s police and fire departments gathered Friday along the Detroit riverfront and at Campus Martius to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
At the riverfront ceremony, an exit sign recovered from the World Trade Center’s North Tower was placed prominently at the podium. The artifact, found in rubble from the 35th floor stairwell by a federal agent who spent months searching the site after the attacks, served as a tangible reminder of both the lives lost and the survivors who used the stairways to escape.
The morning program was hosted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Agents pinned ribbons to a wreath that was floated down the Detroit River as helicopters kept watch overhead. Later in the afternoon, honor guards representing the Detroit Police and Fire departments marched in a presentation of colors at Campus Martius.
Speakers connect past and present threats
Speakers at the events included high-profile federal and local officials. Republican gubernatorial nominee and U.S. Rep. John James, Jerome Gorgon — the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan appointed during the Trump administration — and Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield were among those who addressed attendees. Local media personalities also participated; WXYZ anchor Glenda Lewis attended with her mother, Diana Lewis, a former news anchor.
Speakers repeatedly framed the ceremonies as both remembrance and a call to continued vigilance. Citing recent incidents including the March attack on a West Bloomfield synagogue, the U.S. attorney warned that violent extremism remains a present-day concern.
"Terrorism is not only in our past, it is in the present, and it is at home," Jerome Gorgon said.
At the riverfront, the federal law enforcement official who displayed the World Trade Center stairwell sign said the object serves as an enduring reminder of the work of investigators and the survival of many who used those stairs. He described the attacks as formative for many in the profession, motivating their commitment to preventing future attacks.
"For me and for many of my brothers and sisters here, this was a seminal part of our profession," the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Detroit said. "It was what caused us to and inspired us to go to work."
Local observances and symbolism
The ceremonies in Detroit combined solemn remembrance with visible symbols: the recovered exit sign at the podium, a wreath set adrift on the river and coordinated displays by public safety honor guards. Helicopter flyovers accompanied the riverfront event, and ribbons pinned by federal agents provided a physical link between the ceremonies and the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks.
Officials stressed the dual purpose of memorials: to honor victims and first responders who answered that day, and to renew public awareness of the ongoing responsibilities of law enforcement and community members to guard against threats.
- Morning ceremony: DHS-hosted event on the Detroit riverfront featuring a recovered artifact and wreath-laying.
- Afternoon ceremony: Honor guard presentation of colors at Campus Martius with participation by Detroit Police and Fire departments.
- Notable speakers: U.S. Rep. John James; U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon; Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield; WXYZ anchor Glenda Lewis and her mother Diana Lewis.
Who spoke and where
| Event | Location | Noted participants |
|---|---|---|
| Federal ceremony | Detroit riverfront | Homeland Security agents; Jerome Gorgon; U.S. Rep. John James |
| City ceremony | Campus Martius | Detroit Police and Fire honor guards; Mayor Mary Sheffield; Glenda Lewis |
For many involved in the ceremonies, the response to Sept. 11 has defined careers in public safety and federal law enforcement. The events in Detroit joined similar memorials across the country in reflecting on the loss of life, celebrating survival and underscoring a message that public officials said remains urgent: to protect the living, the nation must remember and remain vigilant.
