TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Team Tinker members, first responders and community partners gathered Sept. 11, 2026, to honor the lives lost during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and recognize those who answered the nation's call in the years that followed.
The 25th anniversary remembrance ceremony followed a 24-hour Vigil Run at Tinker Air Force Base. The events brought military members, civilians and community partners together to remember nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks and the first responders who risked their lives to save others.
The ceremony included the presentation of the colors by the Tinker Air Force Base Honor Guard, the national anthem, an invocation and military honors. The honor guard firing party rendered three volleys, followed by the playing of taps by Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Arielle Jackson.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Keenan Kelley, the ceremony's emcee, opened the event by recognizing the lasting effect Sept. 11 had on the United States and its armed forces.
Four memorial bell tolls were incorporated into the ceremony to mark key moments from the attacks. Each toll was followed by a moment of silence.
The first marked 7:46 a.m. Central time, when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade Center's North Tower in New York City. United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower 17 minutes later.
American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon at 8:37 a.m. Central time.
At 9:03 a.m. Central time, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew members fought the hijackers in an attempt to regain control of the aircraft.
The attacks killed 2,977 people: 2,753 in New York, 184 at the Pentagon and 40 aboard Flight 93.
The bell also carried significance beyond marking the timeline of the attacks. In fire service and military traditions, the tolling of a bell can represent a final call for those who died in the line of duty.
Col. Cisco Harris, 72nd Air Base Wing commander, delivered opening remarks and spoke about the importance of remembering the victims while recognizing the service members and first responders whose lives and missions were shaped by the attacks.
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Oklahoma City Fire Chief Richard Kelley also addressed attendees, representing the first-responder community and reflecting on the firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel and others who responded to the attacks.
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Lt. Col. Rudy McIntyre, 72nd Security Forces Squadron commander, followed with remarks recognizing the law enforcement and military personnel who responded on Sept. 11 and those who served during the conflicts that followed.
The ceremony also recognized the generations of service members who joined or continued serving after the attacks. Sept. 11 reshaped U.S. military operations and began more than two decades of combat operations for service members across the armed forces.
For attendees, the anniversary provided an opportunity to remember both the scale of the loss and the individual acts of courage that occurred that morning.
The event concluded by recognizing the volunteers, community organizations and sponsors who supported the remembrance. Registered attendees then continued inside for a breakfast and panel discussion focused on the events of Sept. 11 and their lasting impact.
Twenty-five years after the attacks, Team Tinker's remembrance focused on preserving the memory of those killed, honoring those who responded and ensuring the events of Sept. 11 remain part of the history passed to future generations.