The Imperial War Museum (IWM) in London will mark the 20th anniversary of the four coordinated attacks on 11 September 2001, which claimed almost 3,000 lives.
It will be the first time the museum has examined 9/11 in detail. In a statement, to The Guardian, Louise Skidmore, head of contemporary conflict, said, “The reason we are choosing to mark the 9/11 anniversary is because it is an event that really did have a global impact. Beyond just the geopolitical, it went into numerous aspects of our social, economic and cultural lives.
“Everyone remembers where they were. It was such a seismic event. But thousands and thousands of our audience were not alive and will not remember 9/11. And so, they may, to a degree, look back and say: ‘What does it really have to do with my life? Was it a big deal?’ It was a huge deal.”
Through a series of events, the museum aims to examine the radical way it has changed lives across the globe. The anniversary programme will showcase some of IWM’s collection, including girders from the twin towers, artwork reflecting the war on terror, and a union flag rescued from Ground Zero, the site of the attack, and given to the UK.
