Twenty-five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks changed the nation, the New Braunfels community will gather downtown to remember the lives lost, honor first responders and mark the moments that Americans still carry with them a quarter-century later.

The City of New Braunfels will hold its annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony on Friday, September 11, 2026, at Main Plaza, with members of the New Braunfels Fire Department and New Braunfels Police Department taking part in a morning observance open to the public.

Residents of Morningside Trails who would like to attend can gather near the flagpole and bandstand at Main Plaza, located at 500 Main Plaza in downtown New Braunfels. The event is free.

A morning of remembrance in downtown New Braunfels

The observance will begin at 7:25 a.m., when members of the New Braunfels Fire Department and New Braunfels Police Department Honor Guard will march from the downtown Central Fire Station on Hill Avenue to Main Plaza.

The ceremony itself is expected to begin at approximately 7:40 a.m.

At 7:46 a.m., the city will hold a flag raising and lowering ceremony corresponding with the time American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

The program will also include an invocation, brief remarks from local dignitaries and the ringing of a bell in memory of first responders who died that day.

For families throughout Morningside Trails, the ceremony offers an opportunity to participate in a local act of remembrance while also helping younger generations understand why September 11 continues to hold such significance.

Remembering September 11, 2001

On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes in a coordinated attack on the United States.

Two planes struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. A third struck the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C. The fourth, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew members attempted to regain control of the aircraft.

The attacks killed 2,977 victims, making September 11 the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history. Among those killed were hundreds of firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel who responded as the attacks unfolded.

The City of New Braunfels notes that the victims included 343 firefighters and 60 police officers, a loss that gives particular meaning to the participation of local fire and police personnel in the city's annual observance.

In the years since, September 11 has become both a day of remembrance and an occasion to recognize the courage of first responders, the actions of ordinary people who helped others and the communities that came together in the aftermath.

What to know before attending the New Braunfels 9/11 ceremony

Those planning to travel from Morningside Trails should be aware that traffic around Main Plaza is expected to close at approximately 7:15 a.m.

Attendees should gather near the Main Plaza flagpole and bandstand before the ceremony begins.

The observance is scheduled to conclude at approximately 8:15 a.m., when traffic around the Plaza is expected to return to normal.

New Braunfels 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at a glance

• Date: Friday, September 11, 2026
• Honor Guard march begins: 7:25 a.m.
• Main Plaza ceremony begins: Approximately 7:40 a.m.
• Flag ceremony: 7:46 a.m.
• Ceremony concludes: Approximately 8:15 a.m.
• Location: Main Plaza, 500 Main Plaza, New Braunfels, TX 78130
• Cost: Free and open to the public

For those who remember exactly where they were on September 11, 2001 — and for younger residents who know the day only through history lessons and the stories of parents and grandparents — the New Braunfels ceremony provides a place to remember together.

Twenty-five years later, the names, sacrifices and stories of September 11 remain part of the nation's shared history, and the gathering at Main Plaza will give the local community a quiet opportunity to ensure they are not forgotten.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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