23 years after 9/11

The 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attacks will be remembered for many reasons.

Once again, it's great to meet up with my colleagues at CBS News and also provide first hand reports back to Australia.

Thursday September 11, 2024 had weather conditions that were so similar to that fateful day, 23 years ago. Bright sunny with cool conditions in the morning ahead of a warming trend.

Smaller weekend services in outlying areas of New York have now become more popular over the years.

Airport Security remains tight across the United States, but going through Boston airport recently, many passengers revealed how “easy” it was to get through checkpoints and get to the gate.

Many said the worst of airport security happened in the few years following the attacks, but these days it would appear, policy has changed with staff making it easier for passengers to get through security checkpoints.

At the location, once known as “Ground Zero”, It was a scaled back service, but still effective enough to honour and respect those killed in the September 11 attacks.

Of course, as a mark of respect, those killed had their names announced through out the morning.

Just walk around Manhattan and you'll find someone who's been touched in some way.

Even the Australian tourists I chatted with in New York had a friend or a family member who knew of someone who'd been a victim.

Then, nightfall in lower Manhattan. Two sets of lights beamed into the sky, representing the twin towers, in honour of those killed 23 years ago.

For me, September 11 is personal. It feels good to be in New York and working to keep the awareness going, as well as keeping alive the memories of those killed. I knew people who were lost, however, I know of someone who miraculously survived the attack at the Pentagon.

We shall never forget – and once again, it was an honour to be part of various broadcasts.