Charlotte leaders to share messages of remembrance on 25th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 2, 2026 — On Sept. 11, 2001, the world stood still as people watched the horrific attacks unfold on the U.S. in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. On Sept. 11, 2026, 25 years after that infamous day, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) will welcome emergency services personnel and local church leaders for a morning of remembrance and prayer at the Billy Graham Library.
Will Graham, evangelist, executive vice president of the BGEA, and son of Franklin Graham, will offer a message of hope during the program. Just as his grandfather, Billy Graham, did at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance at the National Cathedral in the days following the terrorist attacks, Will Graham will call for prayer for first responders, government leaders, our nation, and for a spiritual awakening in our country.
“It’s impossible to forget the morning of Sept. 11, 2001—the sorrow, the terror and the helplessness. We saw evil incarnate, in a way that many had never before witnessed. But then we also saw the best our nation had to offer, as we joined together in mourning, in prayer and in unity,” said Will Graham. “As we solemnly mark the 25th anniversary of that tragic day, I pray we’d once again stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our neighbors, thanking God for His faithfulness and praying for His blessing on our country.”
Additional program participants include Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Estella Patterson, and Charlotte Fire Department Chief Reginald Johnson. Josh Holland, vice president of the BG-RRT Global, will also welcome guests.
This event marks the beginning of the 25th anniversary year of the BG-RRT—which was formed out of the tragedy of 9/11. Seeing the need at Ground Zero, Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the BGEA, opened the Billy Graham Prayer Center in lower-Manhattan, where those grieving and searching for loved ones could share their concerns and prayer requests with volunteer chaplains. Today, the BG-RRT is an international network of crisis-trained chaplains that respond to natural and man-made crisis across the globe.
The 9/11 Prayer Breakfast is by invitation-only, but the program will be available for viewing following the morning event.
About Will Graham
Will Graham is the third generation of his family to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). The grandson of Billy Graham and the oldest son of Franklin Graham, he has spoken to more than 1.2 million people across six continents. Graham also serves as executive vice president of the BGEA, giving leadership to all areas of the organization his grandfather founded in 1950. Follow Will on Facebook, Instagram and X.
About the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed by Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It has since grown into an international network of chaplains in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 960 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes. For more information on the ministry, including videos, photos and an interactive map of former and current deployments, visit the BG-RRT press kit or BillyGraham.org/RRT. Updates can also be found at Facebook.com/RRTChaplains.
About the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Founded by Billy Graham in 1950, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association shares the Good News of Jesus Christ around the world. From its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association directs a wide range of domestic and international ministries, including: large-scale outreaches led by evangelists Franklin Graham and Will Graham; the Billy Graham Library; the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, located outside of Asheville, North Carolina; SearchforJesus.net, an internet evangelism project reaching thousands of people for Christ online; and many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the internet. For more information, please visit BillyGraham.org. Get news updates on X at x.com/BGEAnews.
-30-
Media Notes:
Media are invited to cover this event. Pool feed will be available.
To RSVP and request interviews, please email [email protected] by 10 a.m. on Sept. 10.
Breakfast begins at 8 a.m., and the program begins at 8:30 a.m. Media are asked to be in place by 8:15 a.m.
Media Opportunities
- Interviews with:
- Will Graham, evangelist and executive vice president of the BGEA
- Josh Holland, vice president of BG-RRT global
- Charlotte leaders (subject to availability)
- B-Roll and photos (please use with credit to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) will be available following the event at https://media.billygraham.org