25 Years Later: Arlington Employees Share Memories of Sept. 11 Attacks

Published on September 10, 2026

By Mike Secrest, Office of Communication

The date —September 11, 2001 —remains one of the most defining and heartbreaking days in our nation’s history. Twenty-five years later, the memories of that morning are still vivid for those who lived through it. City of Arlington employees reflect on where they were when the news broke, how the events unfolded before their eyes, and what they saw during their visits to New York City weeks and months after the attacks.

Several share memories of watching the second plane hit the World Trade Center in real time, realizing instantly that our country was under attack. An Arlington police officer tells his story about the day he found out that two of his friends were killed when the Twin Towers collapsed.  Others recall the frantic efforts of first responders at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the unimaginable sacrifices made by firefighters, police officers, and EMTs who ran toward danger without hesitation.

"My first thought was how many firefighters probably responded to the Twin Towers on fire. And then also when they collapsed, thinking how many were lost," said Arlington Fire Chief Bret Stidham, who said he attended the funerals for six of the fallen New York firefighters after the attack. "Like everyone else in America, you could not believe these buildings were coming to the ground." 

Employees speak about honoring those who were killed, including first responders who never came home by participating in memorial stair climbs, supporting families of victims, and ensuring future generations understand the significance of what happened that day.

On the 25th anniversary of this date, we honor the lives lost, the heroes who responded and the memories that stay with us.