9/11 Memorial Museum Opens Flag Exhibit Marking 25 Years Since Attacks, 15 Years Since Bin Laden Raid

The 9/11 Memorial Museum has opened a new exhibit to preserve memories of September 11, 2001, and its aftermath, even for those born after the attacks. The display marks 25 years since the terrorist strikes and 15 years since the raid that killed Usama bin Laden.

"A third of the U.S. population has been born since then, so it's not just kids," Jay Weinkam, executive vice president of government and community affairs at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, told Fox News Digital. "It is 25 years later, and it's our teachers, our first responders, men and women in our military forces, educating them on what happened and what the response was."

Titled "Our Flag Was Still There," the exhibit in the museum's Foundation Hall features flags linked to 9/11, along with artifacts and photos that highlight the American flag. It coincides with the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations.

The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people when hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Many Americans today are too young to recall the events.

"It hit me pretty hard when I realized all of the kids there weren't even alive during 9/11," said Will Chesney, a retired SEAL Team operator and dog handler, in an interview with Fox News.

"As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we realize how many people aren't old enough to remember it," Elizabeth L. Hillman, president and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, told Fox News.

One flag on display commemorates Operation Neptune Spear, the 2011 mission that killed bin Laden. Tucked into a lead Chinook pilot's flight gear, it bears the inscription "5/1/11 Geronimo 'NS'" at the pole base, added after the team returned to base.

Chesney called former President Barack Obama's announcement of the mission's success a turning point. "Seeing America just so excited and unified and coming back together, that might've been one of the best parts of the whole night, was seeing that on the news," he said. "I just, I really wish it would've lasted longer."

Museum leaders hope the exhibit fosters a similar sense of unity. "The flag was a source of strength, resilience and hope… people should have pride and remember how we responded," Weinkam said. "Obviously, learn about what happened, but have some pride in how we came together."

"They remind us how people can come together across the lines that divide us in service of a common cause, and that service inspired by unity is another big theme we can remember from 9/11," Hillman added.

Among the items are the Ground Zero flag raised by FDNY firefighters, the flag draped over the Pentagon by soldiers and firefighters, and a flag raised over the last column of the South Tower.

Educators play a key role in passing on the history, Weinkam said. The museum offers programs to help teachers across the country instruct students on the day's events.

Future police officers and firefighters also visit the exhibit. "We do a lot of training with federal agencies for new recruits," Weinkam said. "Every NYPD cadet and every FDNY probie [probationer] is required to come here as part of training to learn how their department responded on 9/11."

He stressed the need to honor 9/11 heroes for younger generations. "With fewer and fewer people in those leadership positions back then or even with those forces, it's important to remind those coming up of what happened and what could happen again," he said.

Hillman said artifacts help young visitors connect emotionally. "The museum can connect people to the events of that day in a really powerful way, and having artifacts from the important historical events before, on 9/11, and after 9/11, like Operation Neptune Spear, is a great way to connect our visitors to the stories of 9/11," she said.

"When we see the spaces, when we see the material, the artifacts, the models, the axe that a firefighter carried, those sorts of real experiences, material experiences, and firsthand experiences with eyewitnesses, they help move people to understand and appreciate what came before," she added.

Retired U.S. Navy four-star Adm. William H. McRaven told Fox News the events showed the American spirit. "It really showcased the American spirit," he said. "It showed that in our most dire moments, we can come together, unify and get the job done. But as you point out with the fire truck behind us and this incredible museum and memorial we're in, this is about making sure we never forget."

The exhibit remains open to the public through February 2028.