At Kenan Stadium, hundreds participated in the annual memorial Stair Climb, ascending 2,071 stairs to symbolize the steps taken by first responders during the attacks. For many, the memory of that day remains vivid.
"I remember where I was, what I was doing when 9/11 happened and saw the sacrifices men and women gave," said Ricky Irby of the Chapel Hill Fire Department. "And it's something that's always been on me."
Irby, who has participated in the climb for 10 years, shared how he tunes out the noise of the stadium to reflect on the sacrifices made.
You kind of get lost in your own thoughts," he said. "And when you're thinking about it, you start thinking about everything that they were probably going through their minds...not knowing if they were ever going to come back down to see their families."
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In Apex, residents, first responders, and 9/11 survivors gathered for the Patriot Day Ceremony. Lorraine Meehan, who was working near the World Trade Center during the attacks, recalled the nation's unity in the aftermath.
"We were banded together as a nation... first in shock, then in sorrow, and then in a commitment to make those accountable," she said.
Chrissie Abbott, whose niece Deora was the youngest passenger on United Airlines Flight 93, also spoke with Eyewitness News. Deora had visited Abbott in Michigan just weeks before the attacks.
"I want people to remember and not just because of what happened, but remember the people," Abbott said. "That's how the stories are told."
She plans to return to Shanksville for the 25th anniversary next year.
Events honoring 9/11 victims also took place in Raleigh, Knightdale, Rolesville, Fort Bragg, and Apex. Many expressed gratitude for these annual tributes and hope the world will never forget.