Massachusetts is marking 24 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks with remembrance ceremonies, a recognition of heroism and a day of service in Boston.

At 8:30 a.m. on the front steps of the State House, there was a moment of silence and a reading of the names of 206 people from Massachusetts who were killed in the attacks. 

American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, which both took off from Boston's Logan Airport, were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center in New York City.

Hero DPW workers receive Madeline Amy Sweeney Award

Madeline "Amy" Sweeney was a flight attendant from Acton on Flight 11 who contacted the airline's ground crew with information about the hijackers just minutes before the plane crashed. Every year on 9/11, Massachusetts awards the Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery to a local resident. Last year the award went to Jillian Smith of Wales, who ran into a burning home to rescue her elderly neighbor. 

This year's recipients were Jesse Winocour and Jason Papa, two Everett Department of Public Works employees who rushed into a burning home in July 2024. Their actions helped save 14 people from the fire.

Winocour and Papa kicked down doors to help people escape. When the men reached the third floor of the house, they found a young girl who was trapped. Unable to get her, they rushed to alert a firefighter, who was able to rescue the unconscious girl.

Boston Public Garden wreath laying

Mayor Michelle Wu led a wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 Garden of Remembrance in the Boston Public Garden at 1 p.m. 

"We lost nearly 3,000 people that day. And that loss compounds across parents, grandparents, kids struggling to understand why mom or dad didn't come home that day. Parents, partners ending the day in an empty home. Countless cousins and colleagues, loved ones who still carry the weight of that loss," Wu said. "But in Boston, we want every single person who lost a loved one in those attacks to know you do not carry that weight alone. In Boston, you have the entire community to lean on, to turn to, and remember the incredible lives they led."

Fenway Park blood drive

Fenway Park hosted the annual 9/11 Day of Service Blood Drive for the American Red Cross. More than 200 people donated blood there on Thursday.

Food bank volunteers

At the Track at New Balance, more than 1,100 volunteers packed 400,000 nutritious meals Thursday as part of the annual 9/11 Day Food Pack Boston event to benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank. The service event was one of 24 across the country, with a goal of packing 9 million meals to combat hunger. 

Military care packages

On the Rose Kennedy Greenway, hundreds of volunteers put together military care packages for local veterans and troops Thursday afternoon. The event is a partnership between Home Base and Project 351.

Firefighters Memorial Annual Ceremony

The public is invited to attend the Massachusetts Fallen Firefighters Memorial Annual Ceremony at 5 p.m. There will be a procession with firefighters, honor guards and bagpipes at 4:45 p.m. from Boston Common to Ashburton Park. 

The ceremony, which is happening for a 17th year, will honor fallen firefighters and the victims of 9/11.