HEROES OF 911. IOWANS ARE ALSO MARKING 911 TODAY WITH A MARCH TO THE STATE CAPITOL, AND vlog WAS THERE IN WAUKEE, WHERE THEY STARTED THEIR 21 MILE MARCH CARRYING OUR NATION’S FLAG. ORGANIZERS SAY IT’S A TRADITION STARTED BY TWO IOWA FIREFIGHTERS BACK IN 2018. IT’S THEIR WAY OF HONORING LIVES AND NEVER FORGETTING. AND AT GRAY’S LAKE, THE TRIBUTE TRAIL IS LINED WITH THOUSANDS OF FLAGS REPRESENTING THE LIVES LOST THAT DAY. vlog BEAU BOWMAN IS LIVE THERE TONIGHT. AND BO, YOU TALKED TO PEOPLE SHOWING UP TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS. YEAH. LAURA, IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL DAY AS A LOT OF PEOPLE GATHERED HERE AT THE TRIBUTE WALK AT GRAY’S LAKE PARK TO REMEMBER NINE OVER 11 AND ALSO EDUCATE THE YOUNGER IOWANS ON THE IMPACTS OF THE ATTACK. SEPTEMBER 11TH MEANS SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT TO EVERY IOWAN, EVEN THOSE BORN DECADES LATER. IT’S TIME FOR THESE LITTLE ONES. IT’S A CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT THE HORRIFIC ATTACKS ON THAT TUESDAY MORNING, 24 YEARS AGO. LET ME HELP YOU. AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR TEACHERS AND PARENTS TO PASS DOWN THE IMPACT LEFT BEHIND. I THINK THERE’S A FAMOUS SAYING THAT HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF, AND IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE OUR COUNTRY CAME FROM. OTHERS REFLECT ON THE MOMENT THEY FOUND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED ON THEIR WAY TO WORK AT HOME, AT SCHOOL, THEY REMEMBER WHEN THE WORLD SEEMED TO STOP. I WAS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. 24 YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY, ON A TOUR OF THE WHITE HOUSE. ELLIOTT SMITH CAN STILL HEAR THE ORDERS BLARING OVER THE SPEAKERS, A VOICE TELLING ALL THE TOURISTS IN THE WHITE HOUSE THEY NEEDED TO LEAVE. WE WERE TOLD TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING AND EVERYBODY WAS OUT ON THE STREETS, AND YOU JUST DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY FROM THAT AREA KNOWS SOMEBODY WHO WORKED THE PILE OR WHO WORKED AT THE TWIN TOWERS. DARLENE NEWTON MOVED TO IOWA FROM NEW ENGLAND AFTER THE ATTACK. SHE HAD FRIENDS ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FAMILY IN THE MILITARY. NEWTON SAYS TODAY IS FOR HONORING THEM AND LOOKING OUT AT THE 2977 REMINDERS OF THE LIVES THAT WERE LOST. I REMEMBER PRAYING THAT THEY COULD SOMEHOW HELICOPTER RESCUE THE PEOPLE FROM THE TOP. THAT OUT OF TRAGEDY, WE FOUND EACH OTHER FROM NEW YORK TO DES MOINES. WE REMEMBER THE MEN AND WOMEN, AND TOGETHER WE KEEP OUR PROMISE. TO BE STRONGER, UNITED. AND ASHLAND. THOSE WERE. THESE FLAGS HERE AT GRAY’S LAKE WILL BE UP UNTIL TOMORROW AROUND NOON. SO THERE’S STILL TIME IF YOU’D LIKE TO COME DOWN AND PAY YOUR RESPECTS. WE’RE LIVE IN DES MOINES.
Iowans mark 24th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks
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Updated: 5:31 PM CDT Sep 11, 2025
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Sept. 11 holds a unique meaning for every Iowan, even for those born long after the tragic events of that day. For many, it is a time to reflect, remember, and pass down the lessons of history to younger generations.For children, it’s an opportunity to learn about the devastating attacks that occurred 24 years ago and to understand the lasting impact they left behind. Teachers and parents use this day to share stories and lessons, ensuring the memories and significance of that Tuesday morning endure."I think there's a famous saying that history repeats itself. And it's important to know where our country came from," said Tori Cory of Des Moines, who came to the Tribute Walk on display at Gray's Lake, where 2,977 American flags are set up in the grass with her two daughters. For others, Sept. 11 is a day to recall where they were when the world seemed to stop. Elliott Smith, who was in Washington, D.C., on a White House tour that day, vividly remembers the chaos."We were told to evacuate the building, and everybody was out on the streets, and you just didn't know what was going on," he said, recalling the orders blaring over the speakers and the uncertainty that followed.For some, the memories are deeply personal. Darlene Newton, who moved to Iowa after the attacks, reflects on the connections she had to those directly impacted."It seems like everybody from that area knows somebody who worked the pile or who worked at the Twin Towers," she said.Newton had friends in the fire department and family in the military, and she honors their sacrifices while remembering the 2,977 lives lost."I remember praying that they could somehow helicopter rescue the people from the top," she said.Out of the tragedy, a sense of unity emerged. From New York to Des Moines, Americans came together to honor the men and women who were lost and to keep the promise of remembrance alive. » Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
DES MOINES, Iowa — Sept. 11 holds a unique meaning for every Iowan, even for those born long after the tragic events of that day. For many, it is a time to reflect, remember, and pass down the lessons of history to younger generations.
For children, it’s an opportunity to learn about the devastating attacks that occurred 24 years ago and to understand the lasting impact they left behind. Teachers and parents use this day to share stories and lessons, ensuring the memories and significance of that Tuesday morning endure.
"I think there's a famous saying that history repeats itself. And it's important to know where our country came from," said Tori Cory of Des Moines, who came to the Tribute Walk on display at Gray's Lake, where 2,977 American flags are set up in the grass with her two daughters.
For others, Sept. 11 is a day to recall where they were when the world seemed to stop. Elliott Smith, who was in Washington, D.C., on a White House tour that day, vividly remembers the chaos.
"We were told to evacuate the building, and everybody was out on the streets, and you just didn't know what was going on," he said, recalling the orders blaring over the speakers and the uncertainty that followed.
For some, the memories are deeply personal. Darlene Newton, who moved to Iowa after the attacks, reflects on the connections she had to those directly impacted.
"It seems like everybody from that area knows somebody who worked the pile or who worked at the Twin Towers," she said.
Newton had friends in the fire department and family in the military, and she honors their sacrifices while remembering the 2,977 lives lost.
"I remember praying that they could somehow helicopter rescue the people from the top," she said.
Out of the tragedy, a sense of unity emerged. From New York to Des Moines, Americans came together to honor the men and women who were lost and to keep the promise of remembrance alive.
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